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Marine Turtle Campaign

Dec. 2012

TRAFFIC

PROPOSAL

“Ocean, home of love” – Marine Turtle Conservation Advocacy Event

hosted by TRAFFIC and Hainan News Radiocohosted by Haikou Branch of (CITES MA)

the Department of Ocean & Fisheries of Hainan Province Qionghai Radio

Tanmen Town Government

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The Marine Turtle Conservation Advocacy event was held in a port in Tanmen – a small town in Hainan province where the main source of local livelihoods depends on fishing, unfortunately, outlawed hunting of marine turtles and other endangered marine species prevail here. Before the event, we dispatched advocacy posters and pamphlets to local fishermen.

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Before the event, advocacy recording was broadcasted around the town. Local citizens were encouraged to make a pledge to protect marine turtles, not to catch marine turtles, produce or trade marine turtle products. The youth took the lead in making this promise.

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More than 200 people made a pledge that night.

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At 8:30, two famous anchors opened the show by introducing renowned participants and the theme of the day.

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A poem about Ocean and Human was read by deputy director of the broadcast company. Various presentations created a lovely evening for local citizens.

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After anchors’ introduction and education about how important marine turtles are to ocean health and biodiversity, people were invited to answer related questions to win marine turtle stuffed toys, which will remind them of these lovely creatures in the future.

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The show lasted for two and half hours, ended with the song “Ocean, love of home” performed by a famous celebrity. Local citizens were thrilled to meet all the famous anchors and stars and got educated about marine turtle conservation by them.

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Hainan News covered the event and emphasized the importance of marine turtle conservation. http://www.hntqb.com/hntqb/html/2012-12/22/content_40247.htm?div=0

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TRAVEL NEWS CHANNEL, which is one of the most popular satellite televisions in China covered the event in Night News which is viewed worldwide. TRAFFIC senior officer was also interviewed and introduced the dynamic of marine turtle trade and advocated for further protection.

Local fishermen shared the severe decrease of the live marine turtles in past years.

Please view the news video from the link:

http://www.bluehn.com/2012/1221/194039.html

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TRAVEL CHANNEL whose audience rating ranks number 3 in China also covered the event which can be viewed worldwide. Please view the news video from the link:

http://www.bluehn.com/2012/1221/194015.html

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TRAFFIC posted 43 live messages about the event on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter on sina.com, generating a number of comments and new followers. More than 100,000 media hits by Weibo users had occurred within two and half hours after the end of the event, and the issue of marine turtle conservation continues to attract media interest.

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Marine turtle and other marine animal protection pamphlets, exhibition stands have been designed and dispatched in the event to further educate local citizens。