Sep 26, 2005, Karachi
School students remove more than 2000 kg of plastic waste from the Sandspit Turtle Beach

WWF – Pakistan organised a ‘Beach Cleaning Activity’ on Monday, September 26, 2005 at Sandspit / Hawksbay, Karachi. This activity was the part of WWF-Pakistan’s Marine Turtle Conservation Initiative in the area. ICI Pakistan Limited continues to support WWF – Pakistan’s efforts to save the marine turtles that come to nest on these beaches. This particular event marked the beginning of the Marine Turtle Conservation Initiatives for the current nesting season.

Mr. John R. Stoney, Chief Executive ICI Pakistan, inaugurated the ‘Beach Cleaning Activity’ in which more than 300 children from various schools and WWF - Pakistan and Sindh Wildlife Department staff participated. The programme commenced at 8.30 am and continued till about 12:00 noon.

In all over 2000 kg of waste material was collected from the beach. In the ‘Beach Cleaning Competition’ Kakapir Community Girls School, Sandspit, St. Fransis School, Essa Nagri and Generations School won First, Second and Third prizes respectively. The ICI Chief distributed prizes among the winning schools and also gave away the ‘Marine Turtle Rescue Awards’ for the year 2005 to individuals who contributed towards saving the endangered marine turtles.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is a non-profit organisation working internationally for the preservation of nature and environment. Within Pakistan, it has an extensive network and as been actively involved in nature conservation since 1970.

About Marine Turtles
Marine turtles have been included in the WWF - Pakistan strategic plan known as ‘Species of Special Concern’. Globally, there are eight species of marine turtles and they are all have been classified as endangered. Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) are the two species of marine turtles that nest along the Sandspit and Hawkesbay beaches at the Karachi coast. All species of marine turtles are listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Pakistan is a signatory to CITES, which prohibits trade of turtles, turtle parts and eggs. The Government of Sindh has also declared Marine Turtles as ‘Protected’ species.

Sandspit / Hawkesbay is a globally important site for marine turtle nesting. The beach is sandy and the nesting habitat is concentrated along a 5 km stretch of the beach. The Sindh Wildlife Department implemented a Marine Turtle Conservation Programme at the Karachi coast two decades ago but their efforts have been focused on establishing and running turtle hatcheries in the area.

WWF – Pakistan initiated its turtle conservation activities at the Karachi coast after establishing a Wetland Centre at the Sandspit beach. WWF - Pakistan conservation efforts focus on the following:

• Monitoring turtle populations
• Protecting nesting turtles, hatchlings and eggs
•Creating awareness among beach visitors, students and other    target groups
•Organising beach cleaning activities that involve students and    volunteers

Beach cleaning is essential as it provides a safe nesting site to the Marine turtles. Major threats to Marine turtles at Sandspit include:

• Pollution on the beach (plastic, rubber, glass, leather),
• Predation of eggs and hatchlings (Dogs, Crows, Kites, Beach     visitors)
• Disturbance by beach visitors (Noise and Lights)

For further information:
Shameer Ali Prasla,
Environmental Education and Communications Officer
WWF – Pakistan,
Regional Office Karachi.
Tel: +92 21 45 44 791-92

Fax: 021 45 44 790,