Marinelife Alliance — Bangladesh (2015)

Bangladesh is home to one of the world’s most threatened olive ridley sea turtle populations. Marinelife Alliance (MLA) has been working to protect marine and coastal resources in Bangladesh since 1996. Despite MLA’s successful sea turtle monitoring and conservation programs, the country’s education and awareness of sea turtle biology, conservation, and management remain low.

A 2015 SWOT grant supported a collaboration between MLA and local schools and communities to heighten awareness. The group’s outreach and education programs focuses on the role sea turtles play in the marine ecosystem, on the threats they face, and on what people can do to conserve them. The grant also supported a sea turtle festival in which local high school and college students would serve as guides and community outreach representatives. The SWOT grant also funded ongoing educational efforts such as documentary screenings and exhibits in the local community.