Great video on sea turtles and the ocean, and "citizen science"

This is a wonderful video featuring one of my heroes, Wallace "J." Nichols, talking about sea turtles and how they are emblematic of all the threats to our oceans, and examples of "citizen science", where local communities with a stake in their own resources are helping to collect research on sea turtles and helping to protect them:

You Tube: Wallace "J" Nichols: Sea Turtles and Citizen Science

Oh, and I'll throw in this picture of me and J. Nichols at the Marine Turtle Symposium last year:

Villagers stop construction on Loggerhead nesting beach in Turkey

The governor of the Southern province of Antalya stopped controversial construction works at the world famous Çıralı Beach yesterday.

Villagers have been protesting the rental process and construction works of the 18-acre land for the last 10 days.

Governor Ahmet Altıparmak said he decided to stop construction until the court gives a verdict. “If lawlessness is the matter in question here, then lawbreakers must be put on trial,” Altıparmak said.
Çıralı Beach is known for its logger-headed turtles, a species that is on the verge of extinction according to environmental organizations.

Villagers say the renting process was controversial and was opposed both by nongovernmental organizations and locals of the area.

A football team, called “Orman Sport Club,” signed a rental contract with the Antalya Regional General Directorate of Forestry to rent the land for 10 years by paying 5,000 Turkish Liras. On the same day the team handed the land tenure for 55,000 Turkish Liras to a hotel management firm.

This ambiguous situation forced the villagers to take steps against the deal, said Hediye Gündüz, the chairwoman of the Nature Conservation Association of Turkey. “This region hosts 18 different endemic plant species, 500-years-old pine trees and logger-headed turtles, which annually deposit their eggs here. What is going to happen now? The villagers are standing guard here 24-hours a day to hinder any harm to the environment. We are all waiting for the cancellation of the project,” Gündüz said.

Original article in Hurriyet daily news:  http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/governer-responds-to-villagers-protest.

U.S. 8-year old seeks support to save sea turtles

If you're able, please take just a minute and sign this petition that Cameron Koporc, a U.S. 2nd grader, has started to outlaw mass balloon releases in the state of Georgia. Please share with others who may share her passion for our land and marine wildlife. She is seeking signatures from individuals in all 50 states and around the world.   To sign the petition, go to:  Petition to make mass balloon releases illegal

Illegal trade of sea turtle shell products in Tanjung Benoa, Bali

Tanjung Benoa, Bali was notorious as the hub of the illegal sea turtle trade in Indonesia. In 1999, ProFauna Indonesia (a sea turtle conservation group and partner with Turtle Foundation) launched its investigation report revealing that 9,000 turtles were slaughtered within 4 months in Bali. Responding to the report, between 2000 and 2002 the authorities had conducted confiscation operations and law enforcement on the illegal trade.

What is the condition of the trade in the island between 2011 and early 2012? Since the massive enforcement operations, the trade has been decreasing drastically but it has not stopped. ProFauna records show that on 5th July 2011, the Marine Police of Bali seized 18 green turtles (Chelonia mydas) about to be smuggled to Tanjung Benoa. In conclusion, sea turtle trade in Bali still happens secretly and in very organized ways.

What can you do?

• Do not visit the tourism places exploiting sea turtle like Pulau Penyu (Sea Turtle Island) in Tanjung Benoa, Bali.
• Do not buy sea turtle shell jewelry and souvenirs.

Send a letter and/or email to encourage the government to enforce the law to curb the illegal trade of the sea turtle shell jewelry and souvenirs in Pulau Penyu, Tanjung Benoa. Send your letter to the following:

Bali Governor, Made Mangku Pastika

Jl. Basuki Rahmat Nitimandala Denpasar Bali Indonesia

Tel. (+62361) 35155

Fax. (+62361) 433840 – 247431

Email: info@baliprov.go.id

Zulkifli Hasan SE. MM

Menteri Kehutanan Republik Indonesia (The Forestry Minister)

Gedung Manggala Wanabakti Blok I Lt. 3

Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto

Jakarta 10270

Email: menhut@dephut.go.id

For further information please contact:

ProFauna Bali Representative
Mobile: +62 817 970 6066

For the complete article excerpted above, see ProFauna's article at:   Illegal turtle trade in Bali

Brenna and Stephanie - the future of turtle conservation

Brenna and Stephanie are cousins and best friends, and they love turtles.  The 11-year old girls donated the proceeds from their fundraising efforts to Turtle Foundation, and sent in these letters and drawings showing their dedication to turtle conservation.  They hope to open their own sea turtle rescue facility when they get older.  Turtle Foundation is working hard to ensure that there will still be turtles for Brenna and Stephanie to help save, and for their children and grandchildren, too.  We are delighted to have Brenna and Stephanie's support.   Thank you to both of you.  Turtle Girls Rule!