Marine turtles are endangered all over the world and are wholly protected by law in Ghana. However, they are hunted for food and killed in beach and purse seine nets. Predation by pigs and dogs and disturbance of the nesting sites constitutes the next major threat to the species. The project was executed from Kpone through Prampam, New Ningo, and Old Ningo to Wekumagbe, which fall within the core nesting area for marine turtles in Ghana. Even though Ghana?s coastline is about 535 km long of which 375 km of this consists of sandy beaches and hence suitable for marine turtle nesting, only 64 km constitute the core marine turtle nesting area. The project covered approximately the western 30 km of the core nesting area. The project provided baseline biological data on the four common marine turtle species, namely Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive ridley turtle) Caretta careta, (Loggerhead turtle), Chelonia mydas (Green turtle) and Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback turtle). A fifth species

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Erectomochelys imbricata (the hawksbill turtle) was confirmed by local fishermen as occuring along Ghana?s coast (with a local name of ?Hala akoo?, meaning ?parrot? turtle because of its hooked mouth). The project worked closely with fisher folks and developed a turtle conservation education programme and produced posters and a literay primer based on turtle conservation for distribution to all coastal populations of Ghana. The project also identified actual/potential hatching sites in the coastal area that should form the basis for ecotourism involving turtle ?viewing. The challenge for the future is to develop a veritable and profitable ecotourism programme that will convince people that communities can make more income from the living turtle than from trading in the eggs and meat.

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