April 2012: Due to a security breach of the Indian Ocean – South East Asian (IOSEA) Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) website, the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) distributed a note in lieu of the monthly IOSEAN newsletter. The note offers an update on recent IOSEA/CMS developments.

The note highlights the release of an account of the Sixth Meeting of IOSEA Signatory States, which took place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 23-27 January 2012, as well as a detailed list of action points arising from the meeting. It also lists key issues due for completion in the coming weeks/months, namely: the finalization of the review of the 2006 Leatherback Assessment and proposed project concepts; the review of the Site Network Evaluation Criteria; and the finalization of the Loggerhead Assessment.

The note further reports on recent activities of the IOSEA, including: its participation in a number of Bangkok-based meetings, such as the annual SEASTAR2000 scientific symposium, a meeting of partners to the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project, and a collaborative fisheries management initiative between Thailand and Myanmar, with potential implications for marine turtle conservation; a week-long IOSEA Training/Capacity-Building Workshop in Myanmar, which was carried out with support from Myanmar’s Department of Fisheries and the IOSEA Secretariat.

The note also highlights the rejection of a joint proposal (with Conservation International) to seek funding for a Western Indian Ocean technical workshop, in support of the IOSEA WIO – Marine Turtle Task Force, and reports that the Secretariat will explore other possibilities for organising a workshop back-to-back with an IOTC (Working Party on Ecosystems and Bycatch) meeting, which is scheduled to take place in South Africa in September 2012. [IOSEA Website] [IISD RS Sources]