SARASOTA, FL, November 27, 2008
/24-7PressRelease/ -- Students in Sea|mester, a semester at sea program, are helping the Conservation and Fisheries Department (CFD) of the British Virgin Islands to gather information about Hawksbill and Green turtles, two species that inhabit the islands, information that is essential to the long-term conservation of these magnificent animals.
The students locate and capture the turtles, tag them with flipper tags and inject them with a small microchip for identification before returning them to where they were found. Tagging allows CFD scientists to estimate the number of turtles in the BVI, monitor their mating, growth and movement patterns, and estimate their mortality rates. Some of the turtles tagged have a DNA sample taken in order to determine their genetic makeup and ultimately where they came from.
According to Torin Tofferi, who first spent a semester at sea as a student and is now a teacher with Sea|mester's sister program Lifeworks, the turtle tagging program gives students, "the opportunity to learn experientially during their semester at sea by working on a project that provides insight into how research is conducted and an invaluable lesson on how we can help protect an animal on the endangered species list."
Sea turtles have been foraging and nesting in the BVI for centuries, but formal documentation didn't begin until the early 1980's when the Conservation & Fisheries Department (CFD) was established. In October 2001, the Turtles of the Caribbean Overseas Territories Project was launched in all six UK overseas territories to assess the status of endangered marine turtles in the Caribbean. The partnership with Sea|mester began in 2004 and is a natural one because students spend time snorkeling and sailing in the area during their semester at sea.
"The actual act of tagging is a little scary for some, Torin Tofferi explains. "You have to stick a needle into the turtle's shoulder and insert a small PIT tag, not unlike your pet at home may have. Anyone not familiar with needles, and who is, would consider it huge. After all, when they signed up to spend a semester at sea, they didn't expect to be giving turtles injections. Sometimes there's blood, not often, but sometimes. We explain they're not hurting the turtle. The bleeding always stops in minutes and we've never lost a turtle. The truth is that we find turtles with shark bites, boat hits, missing flippers and they all seem to be fine. We've failed to catch turtles with missing fins because they where swimming too fast. We also install a tag to a front fin with an identification number. These tags can be hard to put on because the turtle's skin is very rugged and it's takes a lot of force. It's surprising, but some of the smaller female shipmates have an easier time catching and tagging than the guys do! We tell everyone it's like getting your ears pierced."
For Ben Tobin, getting to tag a turtle was not only one of the highlights of his semester spent at sea, it was the "experience of a lifetime." Wearing fins and snorkels, he and three other students were towed behind a dinghy until they spotted a turtle. Tobin describes what happened next.
"There, a turtle 15 feet below us! We carefully positioned ourselves with the turtle between shallower water and us. One huge gulp of air and a mad dash began. The turtle became aware and flapped his large front fins and blasted off. While kicking as hard as we could, it only took the underwater reptile three flaps and it almost out of sight. Still kicking like a machine, adrenaline fully rushing in our bodies, we managed to keep up, herding the turtle towards shallower water.
"Knowing we were almost at a catching zone, we sped up, exhilarated by the hope of catching this speed demon. When the turtle came up to the surface for a breath of air, I had my chance. After a couple last swift kicks, I spread my arms and 'Gotcha!' Carefully positioning my hand between the front and back fins, I allowed myself to rest slightly, knowing the catch had been made. We covered the turtle and its head with a wet towel to help it relax. Then we took it back to the boat to record the data, took all the necessary measurements, tagged it, and then delivered it back to the spot were we'd captured it. We marked the location with a handheld GPS and set the animal free."
Shannon Gore, of the CFD, feels the students are making an important contribution during their semester at sea. "With the help of Sea|mester's students we're able to reach a broader population. My department goes out once a week for turtle tagging and with only a few people, so we're not catching as many as we'd like. With this program, more turtles are caught in a wider range of areas and a bigger picture of where the turtles like to forage, their spatial distribution and growth rates is becoming clearer. Thanks to the work of the students, we're able to add to the information collected throughout the region and make management plans on a wider scale, not just the BVI. Hopefully this will help in better protecting these endangered species".
Sea|mester delivers a unique educational experience to students who spend a semester at sea sailing between islands, countries, even continents discovering not only the world, but their potential as well. Sea|mester is not a cruise. The program, which began a decade ago, challenges students aboard its two vessels, Argo, which circumnavigates the globe, and Ocean Star, which sails the Caribbean, with college-level academics and the responsibility of playing an active and integral part in the voyage during their semester at sea. Sea|mester is located in Sarasota, Florida.
The British Virgin Islands Conservation and Fisheries Department addresses the need for sound environmental and fishery management in the Virgin Islands in order to protect and preserve and maintain the unique ecological features and natural beauty of the Virgin Islands.
Learn more about Sea|mester at http://www.seamester.com.
The British Virgin Islands Conservation and Fisheries Department addresses the need for sound environmental and fishery management in the Virgin Islands in order to protect and preserve and maintain the unique ecological features and natural beauty of the Virgin Islands.
Learn more about Sea|mester at http://www.seamester.com.
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