According to dr. Dunbar,the collaboration between protector,Inc. and Upwell provided a valuable possibility to expand their understanding of early-stage movements of hawksbill turtles in the Bay Islands. The tracks left by these small turtles highlight the interconnectedness of coastal waters between different countries and emphasize the need for transnational conservation policies to protect them during this vulnerable stage of life.
ProTECTOR, Inc., in partnership with local environmental managers on one of the Bay Islands, oversees a program for hawksbill sea turtle nesting. As part of this program, some hatchlings are held until they can be flipper tagged by ProTECTOR, inc. before being released into the wild. These tags allow researchers who recapture turtles to track their movements through a database.
Now, thanks to collaboration with Upwell, some turtles will also be fitted with Lotek micro-satellite tags that provide near real-time data on their location and diving behavior.
In July, Dr. Shillinger traveled to Roatan, honduras where he worked with a team from both organizations to tag eight juvenile captive-reared hawksbills with micro-satellite tags.The turtles were then released near the northeast reef of the Bay Islands. While all turtles generally stay within the first 5 meters of the water column, their individual journeys vary.
Such important work for the protection of these endangered creatures! 🐢