Msambweni conservationists sound alarm as sea turtle threats intensify along Kwale Coast
During a community training exercise, the Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) issued new equipment to local turtle ambassadors, Beach Management Units and fishermen to bolster their rescue and monitoring efforts.
Conservation groups in Msambweni, Kwale County, have raised fresh alarm over the growing pressures facing sea turtles along the coast, warning that human activities continue to accelerate the decline of the already endangered species.
During a community training exercise held in the area over the weekend, the Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) issued new equipment to local turtle ambassadors, Beach Management Units and fishermen to bolster their rescue and monitoring efforts. The tools are meant to support the safe transfer of eggs from vulnerable nesting sites and assist fishermen in freeing turtles caught in their gear.
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ANAW official Isaac Maina said the items are expected to improve the survival rate of turtle hatchlings and reduce deaths caused by poor handling.
“We have supplied materials that allow volunteers to carefully lift and move eggs, record nesting patterns, and manage injured turtles. Fishermen have also received kits they can use to repair their nets after rescue operations,” he said.
The distribution included gloves, spades, buckets for transporting eggs, sacks, shading materials to shield nests from extreme heat, and thread for mending nets. Maina noted that such equipment is crucial as most nesting sites face disturbance from coastal activities.
He added that the overall condition of turtles in Kenyan waters remains worrying, with all five species recorded locally, Green, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, Loggerhead and Leatherback, listed as endangered.
“Egg harvesting, plastic waste, incidental capture during fishing and the effects of climate change remain the biggest threats,” he said.
Local volunteers say the new tools will ease long-standing challenges.
Msambweni Turtle Ambassador chairperson Hussein Ali Mwabori explained that many nests are laid in risky locations.
“Some sites flood, others are blocked by roots or exposed to direct sun. The spades and buckets make relocation safer, and the covers help prevent heat damage,” he said.
Fishermen also expect the equipment to reduce losses during rescue operations. Funzi BMU ambassador Bakari Mshamanga Zonga noted that the process of freeing trapped turtles often damages nets.
“With proper tools, you can release the turtle without ruining your gear, which benefits conservation and protects our daily income,” he said.
ANAW said it intends to continue supporting community-based protection efforts through further training along the coast. The exercise concluded with a beach clean-up aimed at reducing plastic waste along the shoreline.
Photos of Fishermen, turtle ambassadors and other community members during a beach clean-up exercise. Human activity has been blamed for rising turtle losses on the coast.
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