今天在泰國曼谷舉行一場保育東南亞地區印度洋海域海龜的國際性活動，同時位於泛太平洋地區的國家也在薩摩亞的阿皮亞市舉行相關儀式。日本高丹宮太子妃在曼谷開幕式上的聲明稿中強調，各國應通力合作，共同確保這些遷徙性瀕危生物的未來生存。
海龜居住在世界上的海洋超過一億年之久，並在覓食與繁殖地之間旅行數千公里遠。今日，七種海龜中的六種──包括：玳瑁、欖蠵龜、肯氏龜、革龜、赤蠵龜以及綠蠵龜，均已名列世界保育聯盟（IUCN）發表的瀕危物種《紅皮書》，分別列入瀕危或極危等級。
高丹宮太子妃指出：「海龜是現今連結世界各國與各社群的海洋大使，牠們對許同人有著多重的意義；牠們是傳統食物的來源，是倚靠永續生態旅遊維生的根本，是調查研究的聚焦所在，或者是靈感及敬畏的亙古之源。無論如何，我們對於保育海龜都有著同樣的熱忱。」
海龜年的區域性宣導活動是由聯合國環境規劃署關係機構，「印度洋暨東南亞海龜共識備忘錄」（IOSEA）秘書處，負責統籌協調，這項計劃並由泰國的海洋及海岸資源部門進行協同管理。
IOSEA協調員海克（Douglas Hykle）說：「很多國家已經為保育這些指標性的生物做了相當多的努力，譬如保護其重要棲地並且改變會無意中傷害海龜的漁獵方式。海龜年慶祝活動的目的，是希望能認清海龜在海洋生態環境中所扮演的重要地位，同時牠們也對許多國家人民而言有著極其重要的文化價值。」
在海龜年期間，24個位於印度洋及東南亞地區的國家將舉辦一系列的大眾活動，活動口號是「一起我們的海洋大使：海龜」。
24個IOSEA會員國的代表將於3月11至14日在阿曼的馬斯喀特共同簽署「印度洋暨東南亞海龜共識備忘錄」，會中並將討論2004年12月4日發生的大海嘯對革龜影嚮的評估報告，並且檢核實施全方位區域保育管理計劃的進展成效。
如需進一步關於印度洋及東南亞地區「海龜年」的相關訊息，請到下列網址瀏覽。東南亞地區：www.ioseaturtles.org；太平洋地區：www.sprep.org。
An international campaign to conserve sea turtles in the Indian Ocean – South-East Asia region was launched today in Bangkok, and a parallel campaign was launched in countries across the Pacific region with a ceremony in Apia, Samoa. In a statement read during the Bangkok launch, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado of Japan emphasized the need for cooperation between countries to ensure the survival of these endangered migratory animals.
Sea turtles have inhabited the world's oceans for over 100 million years, migrating thousands of kilometers between feeding and nesting grounds. Today, six of the seven species of marine turtle - hawksbill, olive ridley, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, loggerhead and green - are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
"Sea turtles are modern ambassadors of our oceans, linking countries and communities around the world," the Princess said. "They are many things to many people: a traditional source of food, the basis of livelihoods centered on sustainable tourism, a focus of investigative research, or simply an enduring source of inspiration and awe. We all have a common interest in their conservation."
The regional Year of the Turtle campaign is being coordinated by the Secretariat of the Indian Ocean – South-East Asia (IOSEA) Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding which is linked to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The launch is conducted in collaboration with Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.
IOSEA Coordinator Douglas Hykle said, "Many nations are already working hard to conserve these remarkable animals, by protecting important habitats and requiring changes to fishing practices that are harmful to turtles. The Year of the Turtle celebration will recognize the important role of sea turtles in the marine environment, as well as their significant cultural value for people in many countries."
During this Year of the Turtle, a series of public events and activities in 24 countries of the Indian Ocean – South-East Asia under the banner "Cooperating to Conserve Marine Turtles: Our Ocean's Ambassadors."
Delegates from the 24 member states that signed the IOSEA Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding will gather in Muscat, Oman March 11-14 to discuss a draft leatherback tsunami assessment report on the effects of the Indian Ocean tsunami December 24, 2004, and to review progress in implementing a comprehensive regionwide Conservation and Management Plan.
For more information about Year of the Turtle in the Indian Ocean – South-East Asia region visit: www.ioseaturtles.org; for the Pacific Ocean region go to: www.sprep.org
