Reflecting on the Kilifi Turtle Mini Symposium 2025: Unity in Conservation

United for a Cause: Members from Mariners for Action, Olive Ridley, and Bahari Hai celebrate a successful symposium with an Ocean Sole turtle sculpture.

Introduction:

On March 14th, Ocean Sole & SEE Turtles hosted the inaugural Kilifi Turtle Mini Symposium 2025, marking a significant day for turtle conservation on the Kenyan coast. This event brought together leading conservation groups from Diani, Lamu, Malindi, and Watamu, creating a powerful forum for sharing knowledge and strategies to protect our vulnerable turtle species.

A Day of Knowledge and Collaboration:

The symposium was a vibrant gathering of minds and missions, featuring presentations from diverse organizations including SEE Turtles, Ocean Sole, 

Mariners for action, Bahari Hai, Kishoka Youth organization, Kiunga Turtle Conservation Group, Kenyan Youth Biodiversity Network and the Olive Ridley Project, Local Ocean Conservation among others. Each group shared insights from their projects, offering best practices and innovative solutions to common challenges. The presence of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Kilifi Beach Management Unit underscored the event's significance, highlighting collaborative efforts across various sectors.

Highlights and Key Learnings:

Juma from the Olive Ridley Project delivered a standout presentation on sustainable fishing practices that minimize bycatch, crucial for reducing turtle entanglements. His tips on net visibility, hook types, and safe disentanglement procedures provided practical guidance that can be immediately implemented by local fishermen.

Brad Nahill from SEE Turtles inspired attendees with creative methods for turtle conservation worldwide, such as apps using AI to detect genuine turtle shell products and transporting entire nests across the country via helicopters. He also presented each participant with a small blue marble to thank those who dedicate their time to ocean conservation. These marbles resemble Earth from space when viewed from a distance and the ocean's depths when held close. Attendees were encouraged to pass the blue marbles on to inspire change.

4 innovative Conservation Efforts Shared:

• SEE Turtles highlighted their global eco-tourism trips and the development of an app to distinguish real from fake turtle shell products, significantly impacting turtle conservation worldwide.

• Olive Ridley Project showcased their use of photo ID technology to track individual turtles, enhancing monitoring and protection efforts.

• Local Ocean Conservation, established in 1997 in Watamu, shared their success in engaging over 3,000 fishermen and running a turtle rehabilitation center with an effective bycatch reduction program.

• Kenyan Youth Biodiversity Network demonstrated their activism by presenting a "trashaversary" cake to Coca-Cola, spotlighting the company's role in pollution through a brand audit of beach clean-ups.

  
  

Community and Future Initiatives:

The day was not only about sharing knowledge but also about forging stronger bonds. Lunch provided a perfect opportunity for personal connections, leading to lively discussions on enhancing conservation practices along the coast. The commitment to support each other was palpable, with plans to hold future meetings that include community members and fishermen, broadening the scope of our collective efforts.

Strong Alliances: Omar from our team with Dan, a board member and major supporter of SEE Turtles, reflecting on a successful event.

Closing Remarks:

Special thanks to SEE Turtles for their support as well as everyone who attended and gave fantastic presentations. Mr. Mwatsefu from KWS and James Kahindi, chairman of Bofa BMU, for their insightful speeches, reinforcing the importance of governmental and community involvement in conservation.

Conclusion:

The Kilifi Turtle Mini Symposium 2025 was a resounding success, filled with support and a shared vision for the future. It demonstrated that when conservation leaders unite, the potential for making substantial impacts on marine preservation is boundless.

Crafting Change: Witness our artisans in Nairobi creating an XXL turtle sculpture, each purchase supports our turtle conservation efforts!

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