Marine Turtle Conservation Act Funding Update

Date: July 7, 2006
Contact: David Godfrey
Phone: (325) 373-6441

WASHINGTON, DC – In 2004, the Marine Turtle Conservation Act was signed by President George W. Bush providing support for protection, research, and education efforts in developing countries where resources and capacity are limited. In May, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives appropriated $700,000 for the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund (MTCA). In July, CCC was informed that the U.S. Senate has appropriated $1 million for marine turtles! The final outcome for Fiscal Year 2007, which runs from October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007, until the differences between the Senate and House bills are resolved in a conference committee meeting sometime later this year.

The good news is that the MTCA has a minimum of $700,000 for the next Program cycle, and, if the House accedes to the higher Senate mark as it did last year, the Program will receive $1 million.

Many thanks to all those who contacted their legislators to let them know how important the MTCA and other Multinational Species Conservation Funds (for great apes, rhinos, tigers and elephants) are to the survival of these species.

During the last funding cycle, only 25 proposals of 78 submitted to the MTCA were funded because the Program simply didn’t have enough money to fund all the proposals. The interest in the Program has impressed the staff and legislators of the appropriations subcommittees. The number of proposals is showing them the need in our community and the excellent opportunities to support sea turtle conservation. As the sea turtle community continues to demonstrate the ongoing need, the Program will grow. With growth, more worthwhile projects will be funded.