Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan for St. Kitts and Nevis - WIDECAST

CEP Technical Report No. 17
7. Annual reports will be published by the Lead Agency for the National Sea Turtle
Conservation Programme summarising data collected during nesting beach surveys, sightings
accumulated during marine habitat surveys, results of tagging efforts, and other relevant survey
or research initiatives. A comprehensive report will be prepared summarizing data collected
during interviews with turtle fishermen and market surveys.
8. All turtle nets identified in the Fisheries Division Frame Survey will be purchased or
otherwise removed from commission.
9. Public awareness will be improved by (i) developing a "Sea Turtles of St. Kitts and
Nevis" brochure to distribute to the resident public, (ii) revising the Educational Packet for
teachers, (iii) posting/distributing signs, fliers and brochures to inform tourists of restrictions on
the transport of tortoiseshell and other turtle products, (iv) producing a tourist-oriented video to
educate visitors about regulations concerning the marine environment in general and
opportunities to participate in marine (e.g., yacht-based) surveys, (v) making copies of
environmental newsletters and sea turtle reports available to residents of both islands, (vi)
organizing a "Sea Turtle Awareness Week" to rally and involve the general public in sea turtle
conservation, (vii) sponsoring a letter-writing campaign or other contact directed toward
hoteliers, restaurants, and store owners encouraging them not to sell sea turtle products, and (viii)
convening a public for-um, with follow-up by news release, letters and other forms of
communication, to encourage the Conservation Commission and other governing bodies to
implement the recommendations of this Recovery Action Plan.
4.65 Budget
Financial support (approximately US$ 50,000/yr) for the Sea Turtle Conservation
Programme is needed. Proposals will be submitted to WWF-UK, OECS-NRMU, and other
potential donors. Excluding wages for wardens and other Government employees, projected
costs to implement a five-year Sea Turtle Conservation Programme are as follows:
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Item Yr 1 2 3 4 5 Total US$
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Wage: Sea Turtle 12000 12000 12000 12000 12000 60000
Programme Coord.
Wages: 4 beach 7200 7200 7200 7200 7200 36000
patrollers @
$1800/6 mo (part-time,
early morning surveys)
Wages: 4 taggers --- --- 12000 12000 12000 36000
@ $3000/3 mo in
field, 1 mo in office
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