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

St. Kitts and Nevis Sea Turtles…
Species Survival Commission (SSC). The Group is presently drafting an outline for a global
Marine Turtle Action Plan. The Group is a valuable source of information about sea turtles and
technical advice on conservation projects. For further information, contact Dr. Karen Bjorndal,
Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.
4.55 Workshops on research and management
Prior to the implementation of field surveys or other conservation projects, participants
must be trained in basic sea turtle biology, including species identification (whether the evidence
available is a turtle, egg, or beach crawl). Additional detail, provided as needed, should include
proper methods to conduct beach patrols, transplant eggs, tag turtles, survey by air, etc. Informal
local workshops can be arranged by WIDECAST upon request. The Lead Organizations for
WIDECAST in St. Kitts and Nevis are the NHCS and the SCHS Marine Society; requests for
assistance from the international WIDECAST technical team should be directed to these local
groups. A short training course on sea turtle biology is available in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, from
the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (P. O. Box 2866, Gainesville, Florida 32602).
For the most part, the training necessary to carry out many of the actions recommended in
this Recovery Action Plan will need to be provided locally. With technical support from
WIDECAST, it is recommended that NHCS, SCHS, and/or the Fisheries Division provide the
necessary background to biologists, SCUBA divers, coastal developers, and residents who are
interested in monitoring the status of sea turtles. A Manual of Sea Turtle Research and
Conservation Techniques, produced by the Western Atlantic Turtle Symposium (Pritchard et al.,
1983), provides instruction and background for many sea turtle research and management
techniques. Programme managers are encouraged to follow this manual to the fullest extent
when research and conservation projects are designed and implemented.
4.56 Exchange of information among local groups
If the non-government conservation community is to act as a fully functional ally of the
fragile environment of St. Kitts/Nevis, then the full and constant exchange of ideas, resources,
and published material is essential. The exchange of information is growing internally within
each island, thanks to the tireless efforts of dedicated members of the NHCS and the SCHS, but a
full exchange of information between the two islands is lacking. In Nevis, EcoNews and The
Environmentalist are sent to all NHCS members, as well as to government Ministers, Police
officers, teachers, and religious leaders. Extra copies are stacked at lawyers' offices, banks, and
medical facilities to invite a wider audience. In St. Kitts, issues of the SCHS newsletter Heritage
are available for sale to members and the general public. It would be very useful if grant monies
could be secured for the free distribution of Heritage in order to encourage a wider readership
among teachers, non-members, and others. A regular exchange of multiple copies of all relevant
newsletters should occur between the two islands. Sea turtle conservation is one area of
conservation that will depend on thoroughly integrated NGO efforts across the nation. It is also
important that other relevant groups, such as teachers, media representatives, library staff, coastal
residents, fishermen, boaters and SCUBA divers, be included in the routine exchange of
information.
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