Provita (2024)

The Gulf of Paria, Venezuela, home to one of the southern Caribbean’s largest hawksbill rookeries, has faced fluctuating levels of sea turtle harvest over the years. While conservation efforts initially reduced nest poaching from 88% to under 7% by 2012 through boat patrols and environmental education, Venezuela’s economic crisis led to a resurgence of illegal activity, reaching 15% in subsequent years. Since 2020, international NGOs have helped restore patrols and educational programs, and in 2023, an in-water research initiative began to study the neritic sea turtle population and its interactions with artisanal fisheries.

With SWOT funding, the project aims to sustain the in-water research program, covering boats and four local assistants to conduct sea turtle net hauls. This initiative complements ongoing nesting beach monitoring and strengthens collaboration with Macuro’s artisanal fishers, who provide boats and participate in conservation efforts. The research will provide essential data on species presence, sex ratios, fibropapilloma incidence, and bycatch interactions, enhancing conservation strategies. Additionally, awareness campaigns for local fishers will promote marine debris management, sustainable fishing practices, and legal enforcement, ensuring long-term sea turtle protection in the region.