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The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Fisheries Viet Nam, IUCN Viet Nam, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. Funding support for the workshop was provided through the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the Danish International Aid programme (DANIDA), the Ocean Conservancy, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), and National Marine Fisheries Service of the United States of America. The project aimed to train research and conservation workers and government officials in general turtle biology, conservation needs, and management methods through a two-phase training workshop. The first phase targeted researchers and conservation personnel in both theory and hands-on training, while the second phase targeted government officials concerning legislation, international agreements and existing Memoranda of Understanding.

The objective of the technical and policy training/capacity workshop was to strengthen and upgrade the capacity and capability for research education and conservation of marine turtles in Viet Nam waters, to improve access to current knowledge and experience, and to increase institutional cooperation between national partners and international development organizations involved in research and conservation of marine turtles. In the long-run, equipping the people of Viet Nam people with the knowledge and tools with which to conserve turtles benefits not simply turtles in Viet Nam, but throughout their migratory range, which is known to extend out to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Presentations by IUCN Species Survival Commission Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG) members Chan Eng Heng, Jeff Miller and Nicolas Pilcher provided participants with background information on ‘General Biology of Marine Turtles’, ‘Taxonomy and Species Identification’, ‘Status of Marine Turtle Research and Conservation in Southeast Asia’, ‘General Beach Survey Techniques’ and on ‘Tagging, Marine Turtle Statistics and Database Management’. These presentations are currently being developed into on-line, web-based educational resources. Additional presentations on ‘Research, Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles in Viet Nam’ and on the ‘Status on Marine Turtle Research and Conservation in Con Dao islands’ by experts from Viet Nam and further presentations on ‘Threats to Marine Turtles’ and ‘Development of a Marine Turtle Conservation Action Plan’ by IUCN Viet Nam and a presentation on the ‘Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species’ by CMS completed the theoretical component of the workshop.

Subsequent to the theoretical aspects covered in Vung Tao city, participants proceeded via a fourteen hour overnight ferry crossing to Con Dao National Park, home to Viet Nam’s most successful marine turtle conservation programme. Here delegates were treated to an introduction to the Park and its activities by its Director, Dr. Le Xuan Ai, followed by discussion on the development of a National Action plan for the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles in Viet Nam. An excursion by boat was then arranged to the nesting beaches on Bay Canh island, where participants were introduced to basic beach surveys, measuring and tagging of adult turtles, egg and hatchling study techniques, and to general discussions on methodologies and the philosophy of turtle conservation.

Over the course of the workshop meetings were also held with Provincial Leaders and representatives of the local Fishery Associations to discuss the potential impact / acceptance of conservation strategies among locals. It was acknowledged that turtles are a fairly frequent by-catch in their nets, but at the same time that turtles occupied an important cultural legacy among coastal people, and that fishermen would assist where possible conservation activities. One of the largest threats to turtles was the curio trade: whole, stuffed turtles and tortoiseshell products are available throughout the country, and represent a significant trading resource. MTSG members counted over 130 stuffed carapaces and identified at least six stalls selling tortoiseshell products in one morning in Vung Tao. Tortoiseshell products were also on sale in major hotels and at the Ho Chi Minh airport.

One of the main activities by the group over the last two days was the development of the first components of a National Action Plan for the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats in Viet Nam. This was carried out as group discussions following the basic outline of the Conservation and Management Plan of the recently concluded Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South East Asia (IOSEA MoU).

A welcome benefit to the workshop was the official signing on behalf of the Viet Nam Government of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South East Asia (IOSEA MOU), which was recently concluded in Manila (June 2001). Viet Nam became the ninth signatory to the MoU, and the signing of this important international instrument further strengthens Viet Nam’s commitment to a broader regional approach to marine turtle conservation.

It is acknowledged that this is the first step in what will be a protracted effort to conserve marine turtles in Viet Nam. At the same time however, this first step has sown the seeds of a Nation Action Plan, has prepared local scientists for beach monitoring and data collection activities, and has enabled upper level managers to better understand the biological constraints within which marine turtle conservation may be achieved. It is hoped that the continued support of international funding agencies and the Marine Turtle Specialist Group of IUCN will result in the long-term legislative and physical protection and conservation of marine turtles in Viet Nam. A long-term project is currently being developed by IUCN Viet Nam with input from MTSG members from Southeast Asia that will address Viet Nam’s commitments to existing Memoranda of Understanding (IOSEA and ASEAN), as a signatory of CITES, and which will provide the baseline information on which to base legislation, and enhance enforcement of national laws and policies with regard to the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats.