Why is it important to know where turtles nest?

From the CTURTLE listserve:

A comprehensive "Atlas of Sea Turtle Nesting Habitat for the Wider Caribbean Region" is now available online in an interactive format at OBIS-SEAMAP.

Why is it important to know where sea turtles nest? The answer is deceptively simple, to inform policy makers and coastal developers, to craft conservation management plans to reverse the trends of depleting populations, and to help countries work together to protect these ancient creatures.

In collaboration with more than 120 experts in more than 40 countries, the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, has identified all known sea turtle nesting sites in the Wider Caribbean Region, including Bermuda and Brazil.

The landmark database identifies 1,311 nesting beaches, but because some sites host nesting by multiple species, 2,535 species-specific sites are named. The resulting digital landscape significantly expands scientists understanding of habitat use and facilitates the creation of operational frameworks to gauge populations, monitor species recovery, and safeguard habitat in ways that have never been possible.

The atlas provides not just the locations of nesting beaches, but also information on breeding colony size, legal protections and threats to population survival. We hope to update this asset every 5 years, .... stay tuned!

Dr. Karen L. Eckert
Executive Director
Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation
Network (WIDECAST)
Nicholas School Marine Lab - Duke University
135 Duke Marine Lab Road
Beaufort, North Carolina 28516-9721
Tel: (252) 727-1600 / Fax: (252) 504-7648
keckert@widecast.org / www.widecast.org