Free Website Tracks the Annual Migration of Sea Turtles

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Free Website Tracks the Annual Migration of Sea Turtles

Joint Research Project Uses Satellites to Watch Turtle Movements

FLORIDA, GAINESVILLE, Jul. 9 -/E-Wire/-- Starting today, anyone with access to the Internet can monitor the progression of five loggerhead sea turtles as their movements are tracked by satellite. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SC-DNR) has teamed up with the nonprofit Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) to study sea turtle migration, while using the Internet to raise awareness about these endangered animals.

SC-DNR Biologist, Sally Murphy recently released five satellite tagged sea turtles from Cape Island in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge as part of this research project to determine dispersal patterns, migratory pathways and foraging habitat use of loggerhead sea turtles during the non-nesting period. Their movements can be tracked by logging onto www.cccturtle.org.

"The numbers of loggerhead nests deposited on beaches in South Carolina have declined significantly during the last two decades," stated Murphy. "With the loggerhead turtle being our state reptile, it is extremely important that we can understand the relationship between these foraging areas and commercial fishing activities after the summer nesting season in order to implement management." A similar research project was carried out in 1998, but the results were inclusive since two went north and three went south. "We hope a larger sample size and longer transmitter life will add to the knowledge we have already gained," Murphy said.

In conjunction with the release, CCC's Sea Turtle Survival League (STSL) will launch the 7th year of its successful Sea Turtle Migration- Tracking Education Program, allowing children and other Internet users around the world to watch the mysterious migrations of the five sea turtles being tracked by satellite. Utilized by people in over 22 countries, STSL's education program helps students and others learn about the plight of endangered marine turtles by following their movements from tropical nesting beaches to feeding ground located hundreds of miles away.

"The Sea Turtle Migration-Tracking Education Program is used in schools throughout Florida, the United States and world-wide and is a great example of how science and the Internet can be used to get students excited about learning," stated Dan Evans, Education Coordinator at CCC." Through the STSL education program, anyone with access to the Internet can watch along as scientists monitor the mysterious migrations of these giant creatures with regularly updated migration maps depicting the movements that will begin to appear on the STSL's website.

In the U.S., sea turtles nest primarily in Florida, but Cape Island represents the most significant loggerhead nesting beach north of Florida, with an average of 1,000 nests per season. Researchers have studied the U.S. population of loggerhead turtles for years, but it is still a mystery where they spend a majority of their lives. Through the use of satellite telemetry, researchers hope to answer that question in order to better protect the turtles throughout their range.

To participate in STSL's free education program or to adopt a satellite-tagged turtle, call the STSL at (800) 678-7853 or go directly to the STSL web page (www.cccturtle.org). Teachers wanting to include the program in their school curriculum can register on-line to receive a free 40-page Educator's Guide with background information, worksheets and ideas for fun, educational classroom activities. The Sea Turtle Survival League is a program for the nonprofit Caribbean Conservation Corporationâ celebrating over 40 years of sea turtle research and conservation.

As part of this satellite educational project, the SC DNR has partnered with the South Carolina Aquarium to organize a "Name the Turtle" contest for the five monitored turtles. Interested participants can submit names for each of the turtles onsite at the Aquarium and on the website www.scaquarium.org. Winning names will be selected on July 31 and prizes will be awarded to each winner. Deadline for entries is Monday, July 29.

To learn more about the loggerhead sea turtle satellite monitoring projects or other programs by the SC DNR, contact Sally Murphy or visit www.scdnr.org.

Caribbean Conservation Corporation

Caribbean Conservation Corp.,

[REDACTED-EMAIL],

South Carolina Aquarium,

[REDACTED-EMAIL],

http://www.cccturtle.org

http://http://www.scaquarium.org

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