Policy Advocacy & Protected Area Management
Improvement and restoration of marine turtle habitats requires changes in laws and policies. Direct collaborative work with government institutions, non-profit organizations, and community members improves management and performance of protected areas, improves and restores habitats, provides greater benefits to marine turtles, and advances the natural habitats on which marine turtles depend.
• Increasing efforts/funding by international organizations (including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation) to support endangered species conservation in developing nations.
• Ambitious proposals that depend on co-leadership from government fisheries science agencies are prone to political disruption.
Importance of developing legislation that effectively regulates coastal development so it does not negatively impact nesting and juvenile hawksbill behavior.