Consultancy Service Provider to Deliver a “Report on the Marine Turtles Trade in Vietnam”

TERMS OF REFERENCE

1.     Background

Viet Nam's waters are home to the Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata, Loggerhead Turtle Caretta caretta, Olive Ridley Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea, Green Turtle Chelonia mydas and Leatherback Turtle Dermochelys coriacea with all but the Loggerhead Turtle thought to nest on Viet Nam's beaches. The IUCN Red List Authority for marine turtles, the Marine Turtle Specialist Group, categorizes two of these species as Critically Endangered (Hawksbill and Leatherback turtles), two as Endangered (Green and Loggerhead turtles) and one as Vulnerable (Olive Ridley Turtle). Additionally, the Viet Nam Red Data Book of threatened species lists the Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles as Critically Endangered, and the Hawksbill, Olive Ridley and Green turtles as Endangered.

Despite restrictions on both international commercial trade and domestic trade, marine turtles and their products continue to be traded illegally in Viet Nam. The largest threats to marine turtle populations in Viet Nam include habitat degradation, the accidental and opportunistic capture by fishermen and the direct take of nesting females and their eggs.

Viet Nam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has published the National Plan of Action to Protect Sea Turtles 2016-2025 (NPOA) to sustainably conserve and protect marine turtles and their habitat. Critical challenges for successful implementation of the NPOA are the lack of resources and up-to-date trade and capture information, and consequently, the ability to prioritize and implement threat amelioration actions for the species.

The project will provide capacity to the Vietnamese government to gather information, collaborate with stakeholders, and otherwise successfully carry out the directives and priority actions of the NPOA by its end date of 2025.

TRAFFIC is looking for a consultancy service provider to deliver a “report on the marine turtles trade in Vietnam”. This report provides a historical picture of the marine turtles trade and actual market trends in hotspots.

The overall objective of this report is to provide authorities with efficient information on the marine turtles trade to take appropriate actions that contribute to the effective implementation of the NPOA by 2025.

2.     Objectives of the consultancy

A historical picture of the marine turtles trade from 2012 to present is developed based on available national and provincial marine turtle trade statistics extracted from relevant trade information databases. This part will provide an understanding of official trade flows, identify trade hotspots and destination countries, and trend fluctuations over time. Included will be trading for which Vietnam is a source, transit, and destination country.

A physical market survey is conducted to obtain market trends in marine turtle trade hotspots. This part may include the nesting and trade hotspots in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Kien Giang. The market survey will be conducted in July/August to match the tourist season and will include a visual survey for bekko (‘tortoiseshell’) products, eggs, and meat in markets and restaurants, and will include price information where possible.

3.     Consultancy tasks and responsibilities

• To collect national and provincial marine turtle trade statistics from 2012 to the present.
• To collect physical market survey data on trade in marine turtles and marine turtle products.
• To assess the current status of marine turtle exploitation in Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Kien Giang.
• To assess the trade trend in marine turtle products in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Kien Giang.
• To propose solutions to mitigate illegal trade in marine turtles and marine turtle products.
• To suggest recommendations to improve policies related to marine turtle conservation.

4. Expected results

The Report on the marine turtle trade in Vietnam” comprises of following contents:

• Official trade flows, identify trade hotspots and destination countries, and trend fluctuations over time. Included will be trading for which Vietnam is a source, transit, and destination country
• Actual survey data on trade in marine turtles and marine turtle products.
• Preliminary assessment of the current status of marine turtle exploitation in Kien Giang, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Khanh Hoa and Da Nang (including trade map for visualization).
• Analysis of changes in marine turtle market trend from phase 1 (2019) to phase 2 (2022).
• Assessment of the trade trend in marine turtle products in Kien Giang, Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Khanh Hoa, Da Nang and Hanoi.
• Soultions to mitigate as well as eliminate illegal trade in marine turtles and marine turtle products.
• Recommendations to improve policies related to marine turtle conservation.

A consultant/ a group of consultant is expected to deliver outputs in both English and Vietnamese version. Deliverables are presented in project seminars and related events.

5.   Consultancy duration and timeframe

This consultancy is expected to be conducted from 15/09/2022 – 15/12/2022. The consultant shall propose the proposal with a detailed working plan, budget estimation, and capability statement in English. The number of person-days needed for accomplishing the assignment is estimated as follows:

The proposal with a detailed working plan, budget estimation, and capability statement should be submitted to Ms. Nguyen Thuy Linh via [email protected], [email protected] by COB 17:00 dated Monday 12 Sep 2022.

6.     Requirements for the consultants

The consultants should possess the following qualifications to carry out the assignment successfully:

• More than 10 years experience working in marine fishery resources conservation and protection;
• More than 15 years experience working in fisheries sector;
• Proven appropriate approaches and methods to collect data from various stakeholders at all levels through concrete proposal;
• Competitive budget plan to implement the task;
• Good computer and writing skills (both Vietnamese and English);
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with other consultants and stakeholders to deliver qualified results.

7.     Responsibilities of TRAFFIC 

• Providing relevant studies and literature if applicable;
• Providing feedback/comments on the outputs delivered by the consultant;
• Signing the contract and settling payments following TRAFFIC and donor regulations.