Press Release

Help protect our marine turtles – You can make a difference!
New poster to help protect Vietnam's marine turtle

December 6 , 2005

Five species of marine turtles frequent Vietnam’s coastal waters. Although marine turtles are protected by law, all five species are seriously threatened by hunting and trade, mainly to meet the demand for products made from turtle shell, as well as for their meat which is consumed locally. 
Education for Nature – Vietnam (ENV) has released a new poster to help increase the protection of Vietnam’s marine turtles.  Printed in both Vietnamese and English, the poster encourages people to report sightings of marine turtles that are observed in captivity or in trade.

Since the establishment of the Wildlife Trade Hotline in early 2005, ENV has received nine hotline cases involving reports of marine turtles or products made from marine turtles in trade.  Thanks to the tremendous cooperation from fisheries and wildlife protection authorities, most cases have resulted in the release of the turtles back into the ocean.  For example, in July 2006 the Ha Long Bay Management Board and the Quang Ninh Marine Resources Protection Department raided a floating market on Ha Long Bay after receiving a Wildlife Trade Hotline report of a hawksbill turtle for sale in the market. Inspectors found and confiscated three marine turtles, which were later released.  The market vendor was subsequently fined 5,000,000 VND for the violation. 

Through the Wildlife Trade Hotline, ENV hopes to encourage greater public participation in the protection of Vietnam’s wildlife. The new marine turtle poster will be distributed in cooperation with the Quang Ninh Marine Resources Protection Department throughout Ha Long Bay, as well as to other coastal fisheries and wildlife protection agencies. 

ENV wishes to thank the Humane Society International (HSI) for supporting this important awareness resource, and for their contribution to the protection of Vietnam’s wildlife.