To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what voluntary contributions have been made by the Government to fund projects which fall under the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Indian Ocean and South East Asia in each year since its inception. (279091)

Since the UK signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South East Asia (IOSEA) in 2002, my Department has contributed £150,000 towards its implementation. Our funding has supported a number of projects, including £10,000 in 2003 for the enhancement of sea turtle conservation in Kenya, £30,000 in 2005 for a survey of leatherback turtle populations in the Indian Ocean and other IOSEA-related projects, and £10,000 in 2006 for the satellite tracking and genetic study of turtles in the British Indian Ocean Territory and Indian Ocean.

A further £15,000 will be paid later this year towards the running costs of the MoU’s Secretariat.