Local Ocean Conservation
The Sea Turtle Directory
Country: Kenya
Organization / Project Name: Local Ocean Conservation
Website: www.localocean.co
Email: info@localocean.co
Description: Local Ocean Conservation, est. 1997 is a grassroots not-for-profit, marine conservation organization operating on Kenya’s north and south coast. For 26 years our ‘Turtle Watch’ programme has protected sea turtles and their nests around the Watamu MPA and Diani. Accredited by KWS, our Nesting Beach Protection Programme places rangers on the beach 24/7, 365 to protect nesting turtles, nests, and hatchlings. Our revolutionary By-Catch Rescue Project works with over 5,000 fishers and our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Centre is the only serving clinic along the East Coast of Africa. Our Anti-Poaching team scans and investigates the area for threats to marine species and monitors the success of our mangrove forests. Other programme initiatives include awareness, education, marine debris, seashore management, governance, advocacy, and conservation development. Community collaboration is the foundation of all our campaigns, contributing significantly to the success and scope over the years. A high benchmark of training and collaboration helped create Sea Turtle Conservation Groups (TCGs) and spawned marine conservation initiatives, especially in the Watamu area. One of the main contributions of LOC is its involvement in the KWS Sea Turtle Task Force, which is responsible for developing and implementing the Kenya Sea Turtle Management Plan. This plan aims to conserve and protect the sea turtle populations and their habitats in Kenya, as well as to promote sustainable use of marine resources. LOC also follows Kenya's KWS Sea Turtle Protocols, which provide guidelines for sea turtle monitoring, tagging, nesting, stranding, and rehabilitation. In addition, LOC conducts national and international research on sea turtle ecology and marine biodiversity, collaborating with other institutions and experts in the field. LOC has also achieved international institutional breakthroughs, such as being the first African organization to be accredited by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Furthermore, LOC carries out research on local knowledge of indicators of climate change and how it can help build up the global understanding of its effects and how to adapt to these changes. Finally, LOC advocates against environmentally destructive development projects that threaten the coastal ecosystems and the livelihoods of the local communities. Local Ocean Conservation's vision is to encourage coastal people to be custodians ‘local ocean’ to create a healthy and sustainable ocean environment. All projects are designed for local people, by local people for wildlife.
Species of focus: Loggerheads (Caretta caretta), Hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata), Green turtles (Chelonia mydas), Leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea), Olive ridleys (Lepidochelys olivacea)
Volunteer program: Yes
Tourist activities (Y/N): Yes
Primary Areas of Work: Pollution mitigation, Fisheries bycatch reduction / management, Nesting beach monitoring, Rescue and rehabilitation, Satellite telemetry, Environmental education/community outreach, Community development, In water research, Policy, Stranding response, Toxin sampling, Genetic sampling, Beach protection
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/Localoceanconservation
Instagram Profile: https://www.instagram.com/localoceanco/
Twitter Profile: https://twitter.com/LocalOceanCo