This proposal outlines an innovative, multidisciplinary project with a goal to reduce major threats to marine turtle populations in peninsular malaysia and vietnam from illegal harvesting, trade,…

This proposal outlines an innovative, multidisciplinary project with a goal to reduce major threats to marine turtle populations in peninsular malaysia and vietnam from illegal harvesting, trade, and bycatch. IT addresses three key objectives of the marine turtle conservation fund reducing exploitation, combating trafficking, and implementing bycatch reduction strategies to improve the conservation status of marine turtles in both countries. Importantly, this project builds on US fish wildlife services ongoing investment to address the marine turtle trade in vietnam.objective 1 focuses on increasing knowledge, skills and capacity, as well as closing regulatory gaps for interdicting wildlife trafficking operations effectively. This multifaceted objective involves several activities 1 complete indepth analyses of marine turtle trade routes implicating the two countries across asia through seizure data analysis, desktop research, market surveys and interviews from source to market in the two countries. 2 foster national and international cooperation on enforcement through nationallevel best practices exchanges and bilateral meetings between the two countries and 3 comprehensive review of legal and regulatory frameworks, including national plans of action and state provincial legislation, to identify gaps and provide recommendations for legal reforms protecting marine turtles.objective 2 implements pioneering social and behavior change SBC campaigns, targeting key actors driving each country s illegal marine turtle trade. In malaysia, consumer research will inform a firstever pilot behaviour change campaign in the country to motivate a shift in the behaviors of turtle EGG traders and consumers. In vietnam, an SBC campaign will be designed and rolled out to improve bycatch handling and reporting practices among fishermen, addressing a major and undocumented source fueling turtle trafficking. Both SBC interventions apply formative research to develop science and evidencebased, tailored messaging and engagement strategies for the target audiences.building on traffic s previous investigations into southeast asia s marine turtle trade including with US fish wildlife service funding in vietnam, this project provides a cohesive approach, combining strengthened enforcement and demand reduction strategies. New efforts include comprehensive incountry trade analyses, unprecedented enforcement capacity building, and piloting SBC campaigns tailored to key actors in each nation s trafficking context. The primary beneficiaries are government wildlife and law enforcement agencies in both countries tasked with combating illegal marine turtle trade. The project enhances interagency and transboundary collaboration, building institutional capacity to manage trade in protected turtle species and prevent trafficking. Traffic will continue close partnerships with key agencies, including the department of fisheries, royal malaysian police, maritime enforcement, and vietnam s department of fisheries and surveillance. Fishing communities also benefits by gaining knowledge on proper bycatch reporting protocols and handling of accidentally caught turtles, reducing risks of retained bycatch entering black markets. Therefore, IT encourages the fishing sector as stewards to protect marine turtles in the wild, shifting away from fishing activities detrimental to turtle survival. Additionally, by conducting consumer research and designing targeted interventions, the project will partner with local communities, EGG collectors and traders, consumers, and influential groups in malaysia to promote legal, responsible behaviors around marine turtle product demand and consumption crucial for reducing threats.