Science

Turtles in the Deep

• Fascinating
• Inspirational
• Adventure

Update:

Thanks to all my generous fuelers, I've reached my goal!  But our work is not done yet, so please still consider supporting this project.  Your donations above and beyond my initial goal will support even more research.  With the additional funds raised I will be able to:

1) Collect and analyze more samples to develop a clear understanding of how turtles are feeding in the open ocean.

2) Use better tracking technology and perhaps even buy an additional tag!

3) Engage locals and students in this exciting research project.

Thank you for your support!!

All seven species of sea turtles found around the world are endangered or threatened. They've been on the planet since dinosaurs roamed, yet we still know little about their lives or how to best protect them when they're far away from shore. My research will help remedy this by seeing the world from a turtle’s point of view.

I am studying sea turtles in the place where they spend most of their lives, but where we know the least about them: the open ocean. I'd love for you to join me.

For my graduate research at the University of California, Santa Barbara, I've been collaborating with the National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) to collect data on olive ridley sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Ecuador. Together with international collaborators including scientists, non-profit organizations and fishers, we are pioneering this exciting and important research.

Combining new data that I collect with SWFSC historical data, we are learning about how sea turtles are spending their time in the open ocean, what they are eating, and why they move from one place to another.

We all love sea turtles, but that's not our only motivation. There is much to gain from learning about this species in the deep blue.

The open ocean is also where much of the world's seafood comes from, but like most things in life, fishing gear is not perfect. While the gear is designed to catch a target species (e.g. tuna), it can accidentally catch and harm or kill a number of other innocent bystanders (e.g. turtles, sharks, marine mammals, birds) in the process. We call this unfortunate event “bycatch.” Bycatch isn’t good for anyone. It makes it harder for fishermen to do their jobs; it gives government agencies trying to abide by endangered species laws headaches; and it saddens consumers who want to eat fish and protect sea turtles at the same time. My research can help. We already know where fishing vessels go to catch fish in the ocean. If we can learn more about how turtles use the same open ocean habitats that the target fish species use, we can pinpoint the conflicts and how to avoid them. We don’t have to stop fishing to save turtles, we just have to fish smarter.

Here's how you can help. In 2006 I was able to collect data on 350 olive ridleys and attach tracking devices to three adults. To continue this work, I need to complete another field season in 2012. With just a little support from a lot of people through #SciFund who care about sea turtles, sustainable seafood, and the overall health of the ocean, my research team and I can continue to make strides in learning about the open ocean ecology of sea turtles.

I have international partners committed to supporting this project by providing access to scientific research permits and boats to take me offshore and into turtle habitat (the most expensive part!). Your support will help me buy research equipment (including satellite tracking devices), fly to Central America, and enlist the help of research interns. The best part? My university will match your contributions dollar-for-dollar up to my fundraising goal. Thank you for supporting the preservation of sea turtles, sustainable seafood, and my doctoral research!