Capeverdian Sea Turtle Network

The first conference for the newly formed Capeverdian Sea Turtle Network opened today with funding from the MCTF (US Govt sea turtle fund). The idea for the formation of this group is to promote better coordination and communication. Yesterday the main applicants for the grant met and today there will be delgates from all the municipalities and the department of environment who will share their plans for the coming season. Although there are many areas that need attention everyone is agreed that the preventing the killing of nesting females has to be the key priority.

Hatcheries

Have been busy this weekend building two hatcheries. Our main hatchery will be in the same place outside the Riu Hotel and the second, smaller one, is close on Surf Beach (near Sab Sab). We need a second hatchery to give us a better success rate with nests moved from the east coast and particularly from Serra Negra, where a high number were lost due to flooding. Shortening transportation time is always a good idea. It may seem like a busy place to put a hatchery, but it is one of the most secure spots and does not have high tides like other beaches in Santa Maria. In addition, we wanted to increase the number of residents and visitors that get a chance to see conservation in action.

Diving with turtles

Went diving with Joel who's the co-owner of Overboard who make all kinds of products to keep your gear dry and sand free. Joel and Dan are sponsoring us this year and have kindly donated all the bags we need to keep GPS's, notebooks and tagging equipment safe on the beaches. Appropriately, two turtles (both loggerheads) graced us with their presence! http://www.over-board.co.uk

Generous donation from St Ives Sub-Aqua Club

Andy Thomas from St Ives SAC (British dive club) visited the hatchery and handed us a cheque for £850. The money was raised by holding a ball in the summer. Andy & Elise, who have an apartment on Boa Vista, also adopted a baby turtle during their stay. That amount of money makes a huge difference to our project, so thanks a lot to everyone at the club, hope you have a great dive season.

Project Aware

Just received news of a grant from PADI's Project Aware which will help us begin to record in-water sightings. With the money received we will be producing posters and turtle identification charts. Project Aware is funded by donations from divers.

One of the Wonders of the Atlantic

Cabo Verde's turtles are ranked fourth in the 7 Wonders of the Atlantic.

http://aeiou.expresso.pt/as_sete_maravilhas_do_atlantico=f505885

Linking with other islands

Just back from visiting Fogo & Brava (and a stop in Santiago in between). On both islands the town hall (Camara Municipal) are interested in protecting turtles and beaches and have already have some activities. Of course, the main problem, as always, is lack of resources, so we hope to be able to support them both in some small way this summer. As far as we can tell only anecdotal evidence exists regarding the number of turtles nesting on these two islands (which only have a few black sand beaches) so a starting point would be a census. There are two uninhabited islands close by (Ilheus do Rombo) which are rumoured to have many turtles, these islands are protected but it is well known that fishermen visit them illegally to take adults as they nest. While we there we stayed at Tortuga B&B where the owner, Roberto, was caring for an adult male loggerhead. This turtle, named Victor, had been tangled up in a fishing net that had caused the loss of one of his flippers and made some deep cuts around his neck. Amazingly enough the fisherman who found him wanted to save him rather than eat him! During the time we were there a vet from Sao Vicente accompanied by Sonia Merino from INDP (Fisheries Dept) came to perform a small operation to remove a spur of bone which it is thought might have caused him trouble or become infected. Unfortunately Victor is in fairly poor condition, having lost a lot of weight, but we feel hopeful that he will make a full recovery when he is eventually returned to the sea.