The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is organising a four-day workshop on finalisation of strategic plan for conservation of marine turtles in Pakistan at a local hotel from November 22 to 25. Strategies will be discussed in the consultative workshop under IUCN's Balochistan Partnerships for Sustainable Development Program.
Marine experts, foreign and local biologists, representatives of fishermen community, and government officials will attend the workshop. Besides, Dr Nicolas J Pilcher, a world renowned turtle specialist, Secretary to Government of Sindh, Hussain Ali, and others will address the workshop.
The opening address of welcome will be delivered by Zabardast Khan Bangash, to be followed by Program Co-ordinator, IUCN Pakistan, Hamid Sarfraz's address. Keynote address will be delivered by Hussain Ali. Dr Nicolas J Pilcher will present salient features of strategic plan for conservation of marine turtles in Pakistan. In his past visit to Pakistan, Dr Pilcher had disclosed that a third species, the loggerhead, also nests on Pakistan's shores.
By now, two species have been recorded nesting in the country named Chelonia mydas, the green turtle, and Olive Ridleys. He has authored dozens of publications on marine biodiversity, environmental conservation and sustainable development. The workshop is aimed at raising awareness about the turtle's species that has an important role in maintaining the ecosystem of the country. The discussions will be held on conservation of turtles, protection of their nesting grounds in Sindh and Balochistan beaches, and its relative adaptive measures for a doable mechanism.
It will also highlight various fundamental objectives of responsible fishing in order to achieve maximum economic returns to the fishermen without affecting the long-term sustainability of the fisheries resources amid minimum impact of ecosystem.