Tackling Turtle Trade: Developing capacity to combat Sea Turtle Poaching in Southeast Asia via the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Illegal trade in sea turtles in SE Asia is at an all-time high. The Balabac Straits host Critically Endangered hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Endangered green turtles (Chelonia mydas), amongst others, which are targeted by foreign vessels originating from China and Vietnam, with the express purpose of catching the turtles either via direct poaching or through illicit trade with Philippine and Malaysian fishermen. Demand for illegal turtle products remains high and to satisfy the demand for marine turtles at any given time, illegal stockpiles of marine turtles are kept by Philippine and Malaysian poachers prior to sale to foreign vessels. As these stockpiles are often in remote areas, it is difficult and costly to spot them and to initiate counteraction. To prevent the expansion and continuation of these practices and of illegal markets, MRF proposes the employment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to detect the illegal stockpiles of turtles and combat poaching of endangered species in the Balabac Straits (spanning Sabah, Malaysia and Palawan, Philippines). Based on the results from the UAV patrols, enforcement teams will be able to pinpoint the location of these stockpiles and to move quickly and efficiently to enforce the law and release the turtles.