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A key element in protecting and conserving our marine
resources is to learn more about each resource's key sustainable
requirements. Elements such as environment, habitat, physiology,
mating, and birthing/nesting must be understood.
WIMARCS strives to implement and support complete
Research and Conservation programs for both sea turtles and marine mammals
such as whales and dolphins.
Sea Turtles
We currently are involved in several sea
turtle research and conservation projects and WIMARCS will continue to
enhance and expand these programs. Our primary objective is to develop a
regional plan throughout the West Indies to recover and sustain our sea
turtles.
Our objectives coincide with the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Recovery
Plans for
leatherback
turtles (Dermochelys
coriacea),
hawksbill
turtles
(Eretmochelys imbricata), and
green
turtles (Chelonia mydas).
St. Croix's Sandy Point
National Wildlife Refuge project boasts the largest population of
nesting leatherback's under U.S. jurisdiction. Research on this
population has become a top priority as the Pacific Leatherback is on the
brink of extinction. In order to recover this 125+ million year old
species, WIMARCS conducts a comprehensive Research and Conservation project,
Saving The Leatherback Turtle, that started in 1981.
St. Croix's
Buck Island National Park
(BINP) has a significant
Hawksbill Turtle population and is an extremely important nesting habitat
for this critically endangered species. A long term monitoring program
started in 1988 Buck Island has continued this research and conservation
project under the National Park Service.
Buck Island’s 1500 meters of nesting beaches is monitored nightly (June
21st through October 9th), for nesting females. Data is collected on
the females (measurements, PIT tags, inconel tags, photographs) and on nest
locations (vegetation, soil type, habitat). Hatch and emergence success will
be calculated for each nest. Nests in danger of erosion due to storm
activity will be relocated.
In 2001,
The Nature Conservancy began long term monitoring of Green and Hawksbill
turtles on the East End of St. Croix. East End Bay, Isaac's Bay, and
Jack's Bay are monitored nightly from July 25th through November 22nd.
Turtles are identified and tagged if necessary. Morphological and
nesting data are collected.
Due to the research, protection, and conservation of
these three programs, St. Croix has seen a steady population increase in
unprotected areas. WIMARCS, in conjunction with government agencies, is working with the local community to patrol these areas in order
to develop a sea turtle population estimate that will develop into more
comprehensive research and conservation projects. This program,
Local Community Conservation (LCC), has met
with incredible cooperation and enthusiasm. LCC programs along with
youth education are the key to sustaining our marine resources.
Marine Mammals
Our primary objective is to
develop a research and conservation program for the marine mammals of St.
Croix. By 2009, WIMARCS has a goal of developing a baseline of the current
marine mammal population, including porpoises and whales, to help us better
understand our local marine environment. More specific objective will be
determined as this program develops.
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