Lamu Marine Conservation Project

Background
The Lamu Archipelago on the north coast of Kenya is home to all five sea turtle species; the Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtles use the area as feeding grounds, and the Green (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) turtles as nesting sites. These species are all classified in IUCN red data lists as either endangered or critically endangered and are also entered under Appendix 1 of both the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). In spite of enjoying legal protection under the Wildlife and Fisheries acts (CAP 376 & CAP 378) turtle populations in Kenya have declined by more than 80% over the last 30 years, and 85% of turtle mortalities are estimated to be the result of human activities.

The globally significant population of sea turtles inhabiting the seas around Lamu and its adjacent islands is also under threat from a variety of anthropogenic sources including; illegal consumption and exploitation of sea turtle and eggs, degradation of turtle nesting sites through illegal beach developments, and damage to foraging areas (coral reefs and sea-grass beds) from pollution, sedimentation and unsustainable fishing practices. These direct threats result in part from a lack of understanding among stakeholders of the status of sea turtles and the need for their conservation, as well as widespread poverty which drives local communities to overexploit both the turtles and their habitat.

Lamu Marine Conservation Trust
LaMCoT was founded in 1992 by Carol Korschen and her husband Lars Korschen in Lamu as a community-based initiative to conserve the endangered sea turtles of the Lamu Archipelago. Since then it has expanded to encompass a number of related projects from coral reef protection to environmental education, community development, and community efforts to clear rubbish from local beaches, all aimed at achieving sustainable management of the Lamu coastal ecosystem. The conservation of sea turtles remains at the heart of its mission and from its inception until 2010 annual turtle hatchings have increased from 1,865 to an average of 4,525 per year. Headed by Atwaa Salim, the project is managed and coordinated purely by community members with consultation and direction from its pioneers as well as support from the Kenya Government.

The main objectives of the project are to:

• reduce the illegal trade of sea turtle product on the black market
• increase the survival chance of the hatchlings and enhance beach security in Lamu from the regular patrolling
• treat sick turtles with barnacles, tumours and other complications
• spread awareness of the sea turtles as an essential part of the ecosystem and biodiversity
• promote eco-tourism through the trips to see the hatchlings
• spread awareness amongst the local community through talks in schools and video presentations about the importance of turtle conservation

Practical work on the ground includes the monitoring of nest sites, hatching of turtles and tagging of turtles caught in by-catch. Patrollers, all ex-poachers, now patrol the two main nesting beaches using camels sponsored by Tusk. The patrollers work on an incentive scheme receiving bonus payments for every successful egg that hatches and nest that is protected. Ten years ago only 20 nests hatched successfully, this rose to 70 nests last year, which gives an indication of the success of the project.  Local fishermen that catch turtles by mistake now bring the animal to the Trust headquarters where they are they are measured, treated if ill, tagged and released back into the ocean. Each fisherman is put on a register and paid an incentive according to the size of the turtle (correlating with how much could be gained from the black market).

As with many other Tusk projects the success of the project lies in the commitment from the local community. In this case the community has taken the plight of the turtle on board and has changed their fishing and cultural practices. In addition to the direct work with turtles, the Trust works with the Primary Schools on Lamu establishing tree nurseries and running an environmental after school club; the Trust has also set up a bee keeping project as an alternative form of income and has established a mobile education film library that features Tusk’s PACE project.

Tusk Trust support
Tusk has been the project’s primary donor covering its annual running costs since 2000. In addition Tusk has purchased a boat, camels and radio equipment for the beach patrollers. The project itself is able, through donations made by visitors and the sale of merchandise, to cover the cost of capital items each year.

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