Image: World Wildlife

Trying to conserve turtles and at the same time meet the demand of our traditional obligation is a challenge.

This was one of many major talking points at the Fiji Sea Turtle Conservation workshop in Nasese, Suva.

The World Wildlife Fund for Nature and other stakeholders met in a one day workshop to try and prepare a recovery plan is a way forward to protect our sea turtles.

WWF representative Ilaitia Tamata says efforts to try and conserve our sea turtles is not an easy task.

“We have had faced challenges over the years in terms of trying to conserve sea turtles, there have been issues of compliance but this one-day meeting today enables the stakeholders to sit and look at what work needs to be done.”

Many coastal villages consider turtle meat as part of their food, tradition and the fight to conserve it may not come easy.

For WWF getting the various stakeholders together is vital as urgent action is needed.