Sea Turtle Conservancy Newsletter Science-Based Sea Turtle Conservation Since 1959 Welcome Issue Introduction to Sea Turtle Conservancy Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) is a global leader in the study and protection of sea turtles. Its mission is “to ensure the survival of sea turtles through research, education, advocacy and protection of the habitats upon which they depend.” Founded in 1959 by renowned sea turtle biologist Dr. Archie Carr, STC is the oldest group in the world dedicated to sea turtle research and conservation. Headquartered in Florida, with field stations in a variety of strategic locations, STC is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization. Over the last half century, STC has spawned a global movement to protect sea turtles and developed successful models for studying and protecting sea turtles that now are in use around the world. Through its long-term research programs in places such as Tortuguero, Costa Rica, STC has discovered much of what is known Moncrieffr Mel by Photo about the biology and life history of sea turtles. Most importantly, through its many successful programs, STC has proven that conservation programs do work; sea turtles can be saved. The organization’s sustained research and conservation programs have been credited with saving the Atlantic green turtle from near extinction and improving the survival outlook for many other turtle populations. Why Sea Turtle Survival Matters: Sea turtles are important indicators of the health of the world’s marine and coastal ecosystems. Each sea turtle species plays a unique and critical role in sustaining the health of different marine and coastal habitats. For example, where healthy numbers of green turtles graze on sea grass, species such as shrimp, lobster, fish, and sharks thrive because the grasses are healthier and more productive. The decline of sea turtle populations has serious implications for countless marine animals as well as our own species. In short, sea turtles are an important strand in the web of ocean life—sea turtles help to sustain the oceans, and the oceans sustain life on the planet. Whether sea turtles vanish from the planet, or whether they remain a wild and thriving part of the natural world, will speak volumes about both the general health of the planet and mankind’s ability to coexist in a sustainable manner with the diversity of life on Earth. Geographic Focus: STC’s geographic focus is the Wider Caribbean and Atlantic because of this region’s unique importance to the world’s remaining sea turtle populations. STC’s international programs include Photo by Ralph Pacee Ralph by Photo the longest-running sea turtle research and conservation program in the world, conducted at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. In Bermuda, STC is a partner in the longest-running in-water study of juvenile green turtles. STC collaborates with an indigenous community to conduct a monitoring and tagging program at strategic beaches in Panama, which are important nesting habitat for hawksbill and leatherback sea turtles. And because 90% of all sea turtle nesting in the United States occurs in Florida, STC carries out a wide array of research, education and advocacy programs that are helping recover sea turtle populations in this state, particularly in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. Research Today, both hawksbill and leatherback populations are showing very encourag- Tortuguero, Costa Rica ing signs of recovery. For nearly 60 years, STC has con- In 2013, STC expanded its presence ducted annual sea turtle nest monitoring in Panama by establishing a research studies on the 21-mile black sand beach station at Soropta Beach--a critical of Tortuguero, Costa Rica, which hosts leatherback nesting beach where many the largest nesting colony of endangered leatherbacks were being killed as they green turtles in the Western Hemisphere. came ashore and nearly every nest taken Since it was initiated by renowned ecolo- by poachers. STC launched anti-poach- gist Dr. Archie Carr in the 1950s, this ing patrols and hired local community monitoring program has provided critical members to work on the project. Today, data on the reproductive ecology and leatherback nesting at Soroptat is grow- migratory movements of green, hawks- ing steadily and poaching levels are at bill and leatherback turtles. Each year, Photo by Neil Osborne an all time low. researchers and volunteers carry out a rigorous program to monitor sea turtle nesting trends, Bermuda Turtle Project growth rates and reproductive success at Tortuguero. For over 40 years, STC has been studying the Through this over half-century-long initiative, STC juvenile green turtle population that inhabits Bermuda has achieved a remarkable conservation success story by waters to track the size and health of the population, reversing the decline of green turtles in the Caribbean. while learning more about STC has been instrumental in replacing the consumptive the important developmental use of sea turtles in Costa Rica with a thriving economy stage for this species. built on eco-tourism; helping designate the nesting Through genetic analysis, beach at Tortuguero as the nation’s first national park; flipper tagging and satellite and increasing the green turtle population nesting at tracking, STC also is Tortuguero by over 600%. Furthermore, STC’s Research unlocking mysteries about Assistantship program is training tomorrow’s leaders in where these turtles come tropical biology and conservation. from (green turtle nesting in Bermuda was wiped Chiriquí Beach & Soropta Beach, Panama out years ago) and where For over a decade, STC has carried out a program in they travel as they reach the Bocas del Toro region of Panama to recover glob- adulthood. Some key ally-significant populations of hawksbill and leatherback destinations include Nicaragua, Bahamas, Cuba and turtles. The program consists of intensive nest monitor- the Florida Keys. Solving these riddles is critical to the ing and protection at Chiriquí Beach, Soropta, Playa long-term protection and recovery of green turtles. Larga and other sites in the area. Many of the beaches in the area fall within a region inhabited and managed Cuba by indigenous Ngöbe indians. STC works closely with Thanks in part to tagging and satellite-tracking the Ngöbes, training and hiring community members to programs conducted at its other research sites, STC is work directly on the project to protect local turtle popu- aware of the importance of Cuban waters to Caribbean lations. STC also travels amongst coastal communities sea turtles. Since 2000, when Sea Turtle Conservancy to conduct environmental education activities with local waged a successful campaign to block a proposal by the school kids and Cuban government to reopen international trade of sea other stakehold- turtle products, STC has been trying to build relation- ers. ships with Cuban biologists in order to foster collabo- When STC ration. In 2015, STC conducted an inaugural research launched the pro- and cultural exchange trip to Cuba, through which STC gram in 2003 the staff and a handful of supporters were able to directly hawksbill popu- participate in a Cuban turtle research project. STC now lation had been conducts an annual program in partnership with Cuban depleted by an researchers, with the shared goal of helping protect the estimated 98%. unique populations of sea turtles nesting in Cuba. Photo by R. Fernández Francés Education STC conducts a wide array of educational programs to raise international awareness and support for sea turtles and their habitats. In addition to its highly-popu- lar and effective online programs and resources, STC op- erates sea turtle education centers in Melbourne Beach, Florida (Barrier Island Center) and at Tortuguero, Costa Rica (Natural History Museum and Visitors Center). And at many of our project sites, STC’s full-time Commu- nity Educators work directly with local school kids and stakeholders to build awareness and participation in sea turtle conservation. STC’s most popular and effective education program directly into the classroom. In addition, through STC’s is the Tour de Turtles, which uses the satellite-tracked distance learning program our biologists and experts con- migrations of sea turtles as the basis for a mock race that duct virtual field trips with classrooms aorund the world. people can track online. The Tour de Turtles takes place Included in STC’s education mission is the goal of from August through October on the website training the next generation of sea turtle biologists and www.tourdeturtles.org. STC provides resources for conservationists, which is being accomplished through teachers that allow the program to be incorporated our famed Research Assistantship program at Tortuguero. In 2010, STC established a Sea Turtle Lighting Policy Initiatives Program to increase the survival of hatchlings on Florida nesting beaches by reducing the harmful impacts of While advocating strongly for the protection of sea artificial turtles and their habitats, STC understands the impor- lighting. tance of balancing the needs of sea turtles with human Drawn access to beaches and marine resources. Through our to the policy initiatives, STC monitors and engages on issues bright- such as illegal harvesting and consumption of sea turtles, est area international trade of turtle products, impacts of com- of the mercial fisheries, coastal construction, beach manage- horizon, ment and beachfront lighting regulations. STC tries to which work with local, state and national regulators and elected naturally officials to strengthen and protect laws and regulations should benefitting sea turtles. We also conduct a variety of be the night sky’s reflection on the ocean, sea turtles are public policy campaigns to raise awareness on issues disturbed by poorly managed lights along the beach. in order to affect change. When absolutely necessary, Both nesting females and emerging hatchlings can be STC also uses the courts and strategic legal action in disoriented by lights and end up on roads or other areas order to force compliance with existing laws.