Big news! I'm now a member of the WIDECAST Family :)

I’m officially the in-country coordinator for Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Network (WIDECAST). This is a volunteer role at the regional level, and in accepting I agree to facilitate action on behalf of the conservation and sustainable management of sea turtles. Typically, this includes establishing an in-country network of persons (governmental and non-government, including resource users) and partner groups who are actively involved with sea turtles or coastal management issues, and encouraging everyone to work toward a common goal of safeguarding sea turtle populations for future generations.

It’s a bit late, but I’m slowly looking at applying for a small grant for continuing our turtle conservation project this year at Fish ‘N Fins. Next month, I’ll aim to share our 2024 research findings.

You might be wondering, why should we care so much about these ancient creatures?

Well, though turtles are seen as flagship conservation species and get lots of attention and funding support, the reality is that despite a lifetime of adaptation, there is no ease up for them, in challenges they face. In fact, only 0.1% of hatchlings will survive to adulthood, warming temperatures are affecting male/female ratio’s, the warmer the sand, the more likely the hatcling will be female ( typically, to produce an equal ratio of males and female hatchlings, the temperature must range between ( 82°F - 86°F). What's more, nowadays Green sea turtles are also experiencing tumors; the disease is called FP, short for Fibropapillomatosis. FP is contagious to sea turtles, and it’s not yet known what causes it. As far as I’m aware, there have been no sightings of FP in Montserrat. Some turtles can live a normal life with these tumors but FP causes death in many green turtles. This one, spotted in Aruba in March this year, is unlikely to continue feeding for much longer.

Photo credit: WIDECAST Community. In this otherwise healthy seaturtle, FB is growing in and around the mouth. Biting and swollowing look impossible.

By contrast this green turtle, spotted in Malendure at Bouillante, Guadeloupe, by our visiting international volunteer, Phillippine Perrin looks like it stands a better chance of living a normal life with FP.

Fortunately, for us here in Montserrat, our population of sea turtles seem to be thriving in good health, and we have not yet seen or been notified of a FP sighting.

Until next time...

xo

Veta