New York (PTI): Marine turtle population in the Indian Ocean region and South-East Asia are under threat from coastal tourism, and commercial and illegal fishing practices, the UN environment agency reported ahead of a meeting in Bali to sign a conservation agreement.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reported mixed results in the attempt to protect IOSEA marine turtles.

While South Africa's Loggerhead turtle population has grown in the past 40 years, with the number of nests rising from 250 to 1,750, the numbers in eastern Australia and Madagascar have suffered a serious decline.

"Participating countries have made progress in many areas, but there is still room for improvement only a few are carrying the burden of supporting international coordination efforts," said Douglas Hyke, coordinator of the agreement's activities for UNEP in Bangkok.

Although the most common threat to marine turtles are their natural predators, incidental capture in coastal harvesting, poaching and a resurgence in destructive fisheries, such as the use of dynamite and poison, contribute to their decline significantly, the agency said.

"Coastal development especially for tourist facilities has been proceeding very fast in much of the Indian Ocean region," said the Chairman for the programme's Advisory Committee Jack Frazier.

Delegations from more than 30 countries at the Bali conference will review the implementation of a conservation and management plan giving particular attention to coastal development issues and fisheries interaction with marine turtles.