SANYA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- A national sea turtle protection alliance was officially established in Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province, on Wednesday.
Initiated by the National Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Association under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the alliance is a public welfare platform initially composed of over 90 organizations including government organs, law enforcement organizations, universities and NGOs.
Zhang Xianliang, director in charge of fishery affairs with the ministry, said the alliance which aims to promote communication and cooperation is effective for the protection of wildlife.
China has established alliances to protect the Chinese sturgeon, Yangtze finless porpoise, Chinese white dolphin and spotted seal, he said.
Due to human activities and climate change, the turtle's habitas has been damaged and the population is declining, he said.
In 1988, China's Law on the Protection of Wildlife went into effect, categorizing sea turtles as a second class nationally protected wild animal. A series of actions have been adopted to protect them such as habitat protection, scientific research, and law enforcement strengthening.
Zhang said, the ministry is working on a sea turtle protection action plan to be released by the end of this year.
