Sea Turtle Conservancy Newsletter
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Sea Turtle Conservancy Newsletter Science-Based Sea Turtle Conservation Since 1959 Issue 1, 2015 The Sea Turtle License Plate: Creating a Better Future for Florida’s Sea Turtles for Twenty Years Sharing the fun and excitement Eve Haverfield of learning about sea turtles It’s been 20 years since Sea Turtle Conservancy led the plate is the second highest selling specialty plate in the successful campaign to create a sea turtle license plate state (behind just the University of Florida tag) and the in Florida. After meeting the requirements to create a top selling environmental plate. It’s almost impossible new specialty tag and crafting legislation delineating to drive on Florida’s roads without catching a glimpse how funds would be used, STC worked with the Florida of the now iconic ocean blue and sand-colored plate Legislature to gain near-unanimous approval for the featuring a loggerhead hatchling crawling toward the turtle tag during the 1997 Legislative Session. Now, two surf. But the sea turtle tag has done more than just turn decades later, the Helping Sea Turtles Survive license a few heads. continued on page 4... Florida Update: Stewardship Adopted Turtles seen in at the BIC Tortuguero during 2014 season Classroom Spotlight VELADOR {bel.a.dor} In Caribbean cultures, Velador The 6th grade class at Friedman Middle School in Massachusetts is bringing sea translates as “one who stands vigil” —referring to turtle hunters who waited turtles to their classroom, virtually! Eleven classes, totaling approximately 285 at night for turtles to come ashore. Now students, raised enough money to adopt each of the 2014 Tour de Turtles turtle STC claims this title for its newsletter, competitors and compete in their own race to learn the most about sea turtles. and around the world STC’s researchers and volunteers are replacing poachers Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) sat as the new veladors. The Velador is published for Members and supporters of down with teacher Maria Curley the nonprofit Sea Turtle Conservancy. who organized the fundraising STC is dedicated to the conservation of initiative and lesson plan and sea turtles through research, advocacy, whose class adopted the winning education and protection of the habitats sea turtle Panama Jack to ask some upon which they depend. questions: Executive Director David Godfrey What sparked your interest in sea turtle conservation and why did you Scientific Director choose to bring it into your classroom? Dr. Emma Harrison Controller * I have always been interested in marine turtles but was extremely moved Pat McCloskey to help in their conservation after visiting the nesting beaches at Tortuguero Director of International Policy National Park in Costa Rica this past summer. Two summers ago, I and a group Marydele Donnelly of teachers and administrators from the US and Costa Rica visited Ostional Technology & Research Specialist on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and unfortunately missed the Arribada (the Daniel Evans mass nesting by Kemp’s and olive ridley turtles) by a couple of weeks. This Coastal Policy Coordinator past summer was a different story. We were extremely fortunate that our guide Gary Appelson included the Caribbean side in our trip around the country, and we were able to Sea Turtle Lighting Specialist see two green turtles nesting in Tortuguero, where STC conducts the longest- Karen Shudes running sea turtle conservation program in the world. This was an amazing and Communications Coordinator Lexie Beach life changing experience for me and all the students. Hearing the presentation by STC’s staff at Tortuguero about each species, the threats to their survival, Office Manager Kim Aslan and the ongoing education and community outreach efforts being done at this and other nesting locations around the world, inspired me to bring back the Membership Coordinator Becca Gelwicks information we learned and share it with our students in Massachusetts. Lighting Project Specialist Gwen Oberholtzer Do you feel your students have benefitted from learning about sea turtles? Lighting Project Specialist Rick Herren * Absolutely. Many of the students knew of a couple of the marine turtle spe- cies, but were amazed at their varied diets, how changes in the marine ecosys- BIC Community Stewardship Coordinator Donna Lee Crawford tems affect them, and the many threats they face throughout their life—many Panama Research Coordinator of which are caused by humans. Learning about these very real issues that face Cristina Ordoñez marine turtles caused many students to realize the impact of human activi- Director, Costa Rica Operations ties. The students developed a virtual bond with the turtles and were always so Roxana Silman excited when we could check on them to see where they were out in the ocean Tortuguero Station Manager after they left their nesting locations. It truly has been an ongoing educational David Aparici process this whole school year. Tortuguero Field Coordinator Raúl García Varela Since you are not located near a nesting beach, how have you been able to Panama Community Outreach Coord. demonstrate the importance of sea turtles to your students? Georgina Zamora Tortuguero Visitor Center Coordinator * The transmitters and the ability to see each turtle’s location on the world map Diana Horgen was essential to our education efforts. Technology like this is amazing because we can be in one part of the world, here in the Northeast, looking at turtles in Sea Turtle Conservancy the waters off Central America or in the Gulf of Mexico! This shows students 4424 NW 13th Street, Suite B-11 Gainesville, Florida 32609 Phone: (352) 373-6441 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.conserveturtles.org 2 Issue 1, 2015 what an inter-connected world we live in. These edu- is one thing, but to act and do even some small part to cation efforts also enhanced the program taught by help in the conservation and protection of endangered the Grade 6 Social Studies teachers—World Geogra- species is much more impactful. I truly feel it made phy, which includes Central and South America. Map a great impact on the students and got them excited skills and knowing where things are in the world, about our marine ecosystems as well as showing the including other animal species besides humans, are fragility of these systems. As a result, several of the very important for students. students are interested in marine biology as a possible future career path, so this was great information for I think this fundraising and education effort really those who may be working with marine animals and helped the students not only locate the turtles on a ecosystems one day. world map, but learn about the process of turtles nest- ing, the human-environment impact on them, and the Do you have any plans to utilize the free distance importance of everyone getting involved to protect learning programs offered by STC? species like marine turtles from becoming extinct. Drastic or gradual events or changes in the marine * Not this year, but it sounds like an amazing program ecosystem affect all marine species in some way, and we definitely will consider accessing it next year. including turtles, whether it is ocean acidification, warming oceans, oil spills, or plastic bags. Knowing ************** this made students realize that if we don’t act now and do things like protect nesting beaches, educate If you are interested in adopting a sea turtle for your- others, and recycle our garbage instead of dumping self or your classroom please visit conserveturtles. it into the world’s oceans, marine turtles could too be org and click on “Adopt” or you can contact STC added to the already long list of extinct species. Membership Coordinator Becca Gelwicks directly at [email protected]. Why did you decide to fundraise for STC by adopting sea turtles as opposed to just teaching on If you are interested in a FREE distance learning the subject? program with an STC turtle expert please contact Dan Evans at [email protected] * In my opinion, fundraising and contributing toward a cause gives students ownership in not only just knowing about the problem but also being a part of By Becca Gelwicks the solution. To educate and learn about something Membership Coordinator Sea Turtle Conservancy 3 ... from cover The Helping Sea Turtles In the mid-90s, Florida’s Survive specialty license fledgling Marine Turtle plate became official Protection Program was in 1997, when it was fighting for survival. The passed with overwhelm- state program had no dedi- ing support of the Flor- cated funding source and ida Legislature. The tag was scraping by on bare- was approved by a 35-0 minimum annual appropria- vote in the Senate and a tions and small grants from 116-3 vote in the House another wildlife agency. As of Representatives. The a result, sea turtle research, final bill was signed by recovery and regulatory ef- Governor Lawton Chiles at a ceremoney held forts in Florida were at risk. Governor Lawton Chiles signs the bill establishing the Sea Turtle License Plate at a signing ceremony in 1997. next to the sea turtle When STC executive di- STC executive director David Godfrey stands just be- tanks at the Clearwater rector David Godfrey first hind the governor with members of the legislature who Marine Aquarium. started with the organization sponsored the bill. in 1993, at that time running “One of the most unique STC’s Florida programs, his first major initiative was aspects of Florida’s turtle tag,” said Godfrey, “is that to launch the campaign to establish the turtle tag. it was established by STC with the support of other citizen groups in order to create a permanent funding “The first thing I did after starting with STC was to source for a government program.” travel around Florida meeting with people involved in sea turtle protection to learn about the greatest threats Today, revenue generated by the sea turtle tag stretch- facing these species in the state,” Godfrey said.