Projects

Pacific Leatherback Turtle Conservation Trust Fund Business Plan (2007)

Clients: The Ocean Foundation (TOF) and Trust for Conservation Innovation (TCI)
Partners: Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC), and the WPRFMC Turtle Advisory Committee

Project overview

The Leatherback turtle lives in and traverses all of the world’s oceans, in both tropical and temperate waters. Pacific Leatherback turtles (PLT) have the most extensive range of marine turtles, and in fact, of any living reptile. Pacific Leatherback populations have been in steep decline for the past several decades, and the species is now listed as critically endangered on the ICUN Red List. Over the past ten years, many efforts have been made to understand the current status of the PLT: their key habitats, the geographic distributions of remaining populations, and identifying and addressing the threats to their survival. There is a clear consensus on the need for the development of a Pacific Leatherback Turtle Conservation Fund (PLTC Fund or Fund). The WPRFMC selected The Ocean Foundation, a 501(c)(3) international public foundation, to design and manage such a Fund.

Challenges

In order to ensure protection of the PLT, several different approaches must be taken to ensure protection of the PLT: nesting beach programs, marine environment support, and policy, institutional capacity & coordination. The scale of necessary support requires prioritization across each of the approaches as well as countries.

Approach and Outcome

The Ocean Foundation partnered with TCI, who in turn hired Starling, to develop the Business Plan and outline the activities and priority focus areas and the management and financial requirements for the PLTC Fund. Starling utilized the following approach:

• Extensive interviews of key PLT specialists across the Pacific,

• Cost and revenue modeling including all countries and approaches, and

• PLT Conservation Fund Business Plan development.

Additional Information

• The Ocean Foundation