An Andaman Sea refuge
The Andaman Sea coastline of Myanmar's Tanintharyi Region is an important refuge for marine turtles. This area, particularly within the Lampi Marine National Park, contains some of the most important nesting sites in the country. Five of the world's seven sea turtle species are found in Myanmar's waters. The beaches of the Mergui Archipelago, which includes more than 800 islands, provide the sandy habitats necessary for these reptiles to lay their eggs.
The waters harbor green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), with the occasional nesting of the massive leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Green turtles, which can weigh as much as a piano, return to these shores to dig nests with their hind flippers, laying clutches of around 100 eggs at a time. The hawksbill, listed as critically endangered, forages on marine sponges in the surrounding coral reefs, helping the reef's health. The leatherback, the largest of all sea turtles, is the rarest nester in the region.
A connected ocean
The nesting sites in Tanintharyi are not isolated ecosystems; they are one end of a vast migratory route. As stated in the hook, satellite tagging studies have shown the journeys these animals take. Turtles from this region travel over 2,000 kilometers to reach their feeding grounds in Indonesia. This long-distance migration shows a direct biological link between the coastal habitats of Myanmar and marine ecosystems across Southeast Asia.
Conservation within the Tanintharyi Region is active, though it faces challenges. The Department of Fisheries has been involved in conservation programs since 1963. Organizations like Fauna & Flora International work with local communities and the government to establish Locally Managed Marine Areas to protect threatened species from the impacts of illegal and commercial fishing. In Lampi Marine National Park, the Lampi Foundation, in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society, established the park's first sea turtle hatchery to protect nests from poaching and predation. These efforts are important, as threats persist from incidental capture in fishing nets, illegal egg collection, and the degradation of their marine habitat. The Myanmar Marine Fisheries Law prohibits mechanized fishing within ten miles of the Tanintharyi coast to help reduce turtle mortality.