Additional Resources
REGIONAL SEA TURTLE INFORMATION
Asia - http://www.ioseaturtles.org
The Indian Ocean / South-East Asian (IOSEA) Marine Turtle MoU is an intergovernmental agreement that aims to protect, conserve, replenish and recover marine turtles and their habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asian region, working in partnership with other relevant actors and organisations.
Caribbean - http://www.widecast.org
The Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) is an international scientific network operating in more than 30 Caribbean States and territories. WIDECAST embraces the largest network of sea turtle research and conservation projects in the world and provides a unique framework for collaboration that emphasizes science-based tools in the management and conservation of sea turtles, successfully integrating once isolated efforts into an effective, collective response to the challenge of chronically depleted populations. Emphasizing information exchange and training, the network continues to promote strong linkages between science, policy, and public participation in the design and implementation of conservation actions.
Europe - http://www.euroturtle.org
EuroTurtle is Europe’s first educational website for the conservation and biology of sea turtles. Created in 1993, it is a joint project between MEDASSET – The Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles, Exeter University and King’s College (Taunton), UK. The website integrates an interactive and innovative style with high quality graphics, a virtual reality game, photographs, data, work sheets and diagrams. The content is regularly updated, and the site has received a number of awards.
Mediterranean - http://www.medasset.gr (available in Greek and English)
MEDASSET – The Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles – is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) founded in 1988, working for the conservation of sea turtles and their habitats throughout the Mediterranean. It has been involved in conservation and scientific research programmes, public awareness, environmental education and lobbying decision-makers.
North America - http://seamap.env.duke.edu
As part of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), a group of investigators, led by Andrew Read of Duke University, will create a digital database of marine mammal, seabird, and sea turtle distribution and abundance. Partners with Duke include UC San Diego, University of Washington, College of the Atlantic, St. Andrews University, British Antarctic Survey, SAHFOS, NMFS Southeast Fisheries Center, and several industries. The web-based system will allow the interactive display, query, and analysis of Digital Archive in conjunction with environmental data.
Pacific - http://www.toppcensus.org
The Tagging of Pacific Pelagic (TOPP) research project explores the Pacific, using a carefully selected group of animals from its ecosystems to gather data about their world. As a pilot program of the Census of Marine Life (COML), an international endeavor to determine what lives, has lived and will live in the world’s ocean, TOPP scientists will tag individuals from 21 species of marine predators in the Eastern Pacific to obtain an “organism’s eye” view of their world. Jointly run by Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Lab, the University of California, Santa Cruz’s Long Marine Laboratory, NOAA’s Pacific Fisheries Ecosystems Lab, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, TOPP also includes team members from several countries.
CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS
ARCHELON (Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece) - http://www.archelon.gr
ARCHELON protects sea turtles and their habitats in Greece via monitoring and research, management plans, habitat restoration, and advocacy. ARCHELON is a partner to the UNEP/Mediterranean Action Plan, a member of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and the European Union for the Conservation of the Coasts (EUCC). Members of ARCHELON participate in the IUCN/Marine Turtle Specialist Group and contribute to the formulation of the international strategy for the conservation of sea turtles.
Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) - http://www.cccturtle.org/aboutccc.htm
The Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization based in Florida. Since its founding in 1959, CCC’s work has greatly improved the survival outlook for several species of sea turtles. To achieve its mission of protecting sea turtles and the habitats upon which they depend, CCC uses research, habitat protection, public education, community outreach, networking and advocacy as its basic tools. These tools are applied in both international and domestic programs focusing on geographic areas that are globally important to sea turtle survival.
Conservation International’s Sea Turtle Flagship Program - http://www.conservation.org/xp/CIWEB/programs/turtleflagship
Conservation International’s Sea Turtle Flagship Program in the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science (CABS) creates far-reaching and long-lasting positive changes to the ways in which industries, cultures and individuals impact sea turtle life, oceanic ecosystems and marine biodiversity as a whole.
Leatherback Campaign - http://www.savetheleatherback.org
Support the Leatherback Restoration Project in its fight to implement a moratorium on the destructive fishing practices driving the Pacific Leatherback to extinction.
Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI) - http://www.mcbi.org/
MCBI is a non-profit organization using science to further marine conservation through advocacy and education.
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) - http://www.msc.org/
MSC is an international non-profit organization working to promote sustainable fishing practices and seafood consumption. They certify sustainable seafood, applying an "eco label" for consumers.
Oceana - http://www.oceana.org/
An international organization, Oceana works to protect the world’s oceans. They have campaigns running in North and South America, and in Europe to increase public awareness and action around seafood contamination and illegal fishing practices detrimental to human and environmental health.
Sea Turtle Restoration Project - http://www.seaturtles.org
The Sea Turtle Restoration Project (STRP) fights to protect endangered sea turtle populations in ways that meet the ecological needs of the sea turtles and the oceans and the needs of the local communities who share the beaches and waters with these gentle, beautiful creatures.
The Leatherback Trust - http://www.leatherback.org
The Leatherback Trust is a non-profit foundation established by James R. Spotila, Ph.D. to save the leatherback turtle and other sea turtles from extinction. The Leatherback Trust scientists were instrumental in founding a new national park, Parque Marino Las Baulas, on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The park protects the most important leatherback nesting beaches in the Pacific Ocean.
WiLDCOAST- http://www.wildcoast.net
WiLDCOAST is an international conservation team dedicated to preserving endangered marine species and threatened coastal wildlands of the Californias. Through community outreach, activism and media campaigns, we work to eliminate threats to ecosystems and to develop reserves to permanently protect sensitive areas. Our partnerships with local people and nonprofit organizations are critical to the successful recovery of imperiled species and the defense of their coastal and marine habitats.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - http://www.panda.org
WWF’s ultimate goal is to stop and eventually reverse environmental degradation and to build a future where people live in harmony with nature. Since June 2005, WWF and its partners have been tracking an increasing number of leatherback marine turtles in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION & TOOLS
Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG) - http://www.iucn-mtsg.org
The IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group develops, supports, and implements programs that promote the restoration and survival of healthy marine turtle populations on their natural ecological roles. MTSG works with and is composed of scientists, natural resources managers and community advocates working on marine conservation at local, regional, national and international levels.
SeaTurtle.org - http://seaturtle.org
SeaTurtle.org is home to a variety of tools and information on sea turtle conservation and science, including an image library, tracking and mapping tools, member websites, a newsletter and a online bookstore.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Sea Turtle AIDE - http://www.seaturtleaide.com
Help fund projects protecting sea turtles without spending your own money. Sponsors will make a donation on your behalf each day you participate in one of our interactive Donation Drives. This service is 100% free to the public.
Seafood Watch - http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp
A program of Monterey Bay Aquarium designed to raise consumer awareness about the importance of buying seafood from sustainable sources. We recommend which seafood to buy or avoid, helping consumers to become advocates for environmentally friendly seafood. We're also partners of the Seafood Choices Alliance where, along with other seafood awareness campaigns, we provide seafood purveyors with recommendations on seafood choices.