ISTS42 Program/Agenda

The US SAS Data for Good program and the USFQ-UNC Galapagos Science Center (GSC) have partnered to bring the power of data science and analytics to several research programs in the Galapagos. One of them is the sea turtle research program carried out by the GSC since 2011 (Programa Tortuga Negra). This pilot photo-ID initiative is based on each sea turtle being “naturally identified” with a unique scale pattern on its face. The project asks online volunteers to experience a "matching game" with images of Galapagos sea turtles. The goal is to use these thousands of images to mass train a SAS® computer vision model to accurately recognize individual turtles on its own. That artificial intelligence (AI) model can then be used on more turtle photographs from any location and source (e.g. social media), to get even more useful information into the hands of researchers. The current phase of this app is for people to get involve, participate in citizen scientist initiatives, learn and identify and match individual turtles. This creates a dataset of matching images and trains the model how to identify an unknown turtle. If we can successfully train the model to identify individual turtles (based on the unique patterns on their head), the next phase is to feed additional images of unknown turtles into the model and identify the turtles “automatically.” Sea turtles are migratory species, positive identification of an individual turtle would allow researchers to collect information, population, migratory movements, and health in a non-invasive and rapid manner, causing less stress to the turtles and providing essential management data almost in any way. real time.

Vivemar, a non-governmental organization founded as a cooperative society by people from the community in 2011, is located in Bajos de Chila, Oaxaca, Mexico, and is committed to protecting and conserving sea turtles, birds, and mangroves on 27km of coast, covering the main beaches of Puerto Escondido and San Pedro Mixtepec. Our activities include:

1. Conservation and protection of four species of sea turtles, Lepidochelys olivacea, Chelonya mydas, Dermochelys coriacea, Eretmochelys imbricata; PIT and metal tagging of Dermochelys coriacea for Proyecto de Altura; photo identification and monitoring using drones; and beach clean ups.
2. Bird banding.
3. Escuelita VIVEMAR: providing free environmental education in local schools promoting environmental awareness and the preservation of biodiversity through community participation, as leaders and mentors.
4. Organic Gardens: preserving native plants of the region, avoiding pesticides and genetically modified seeds, encouraging self-consumption.

Vivemar is committed to protecting and conserving sea turtles, birds, mangroves, and providing free environmental education in the local community, promoting a sustainable conservation model through community participation, being community leaders in the conservation of marine life and the coastal ecosystem. of Oaxaca, being mentors in the conservation of M.A.R. (Seas, mangroves, birds and reptiles) through sustainable community work that promotes environmental awareness and the preservation of biodiversity.

Playa Palmarito is considered a high priority nesting beach for Dermochelys coriacea, Chelonia mydas and Lepidochelys olivacea have been present all year round since 2021, thereby increasing the number of clutches. Eretmochelys imbricata nest sporadically. The four species are protected by NOM 059 SEMARNAT, all of which are declared in danger of extinction, highlighting the leatherback and hawksbill as critically endangered. From 2016 to date, VIVEMAR has released into the ocean 666,989 Lepidochelys olivacea hatchlings, 46,354 Chelonia mydas hatchlings, 14,545 Dermochelys coriacea hatchlings and 406 Eretmochelys imbricata hatchlings. Hatching percentage is above 70% in all species.

Since 2021 we have ringed more than 400 species of birds, being the first scientific bird ringing camp in Puerto Escondido, highlighting species Passerina ciris Columbina inca, Icterus spurius, Vireo bellii, Volatinia jacarina, Saltator grandis, Myiarchus nuttingii, Passerina leclancheri , Setophaga petechia, thanks to scientific banding we can conserve the migratory birds that visit us from the USA and CANADA as well as their habitats. We have provided free environmental education to more than 400,000 people who visit us through the release of turtles, volunteers and children and adolescents that we visit in primary, secondary and high schools, visiting 129 public schools at the moment.

Sea turtle conservation is a complex matter that requires transdisciplinary scientific research, regional management, as well as ocean literacy among the public. Despite the impressively rich marine biodiversity of South China Sea, limited exposure of sea turtle exists among citizens of Hong Kong. Physical contact with the protected species in the wild is prohibited by law, and only a handful of rescued individuals deemed unfit for release are kept in aquarium for rehabilitation and exhibition. Unlike in some other countries, there is no field trips or hatchling release activities in Hong Kong that can engage the community in sea turtle awareness and conservation.

Since August 2019, virtopsy (virtual necropsy) has been implemented into the sea turtle stranding and salvage programme in Hong Kong. Live stranded or deceased sea turtles routinely underwent diagnostic imaging examinations, including computed tomography and 3D surface scanning. Handheld 3D scanners were used to capture the external features (i.e., shape, size, color) of every sea turtle retrieved. The data acquisition using professional scanners generates calibrated 3D models which are true-to-scale, allowing forensic investigation like matching analysis with suspected injury-inflicting tools. The authentic color information facilitated veterinary assessment on their biological health condition and cause of death. The digital nature of virtopsy data permitted knowledge transfer and retrospective studies after the animals were released or dissected. These digital archives not only served as scientific evidence for the scientific community, but also provided excellent opportunities for public outreach. 3D models can be easily assessed using online viewers, or incorporated into virtual reality medical training system for anatomy education and in the metaverse for public engagement. These digital tools eliminated the need for physical encounter with the animal, which is usually impractical and potentially hazardous considering the risk of zoonotic infection. Sea turtle replicas could be 3D printed using safe and durable materials, allowing people to “get in touch” with the protected species. By bringing real sea turtle cases to the public eye, we aimed to advocate better ocean literacy towards marine conservation.

Sea turtle salvage is often hindered by the lack of proactive input from the public. Instead of reporting to relevant agencies, most opportunistic encounters involved photo taking and posting on social media. The late notice to response personnel resulted in delayed recovery, overdue rescue of stranded animals or advanced decomposition of carcasses, which hindered postmortem investigation. In certain occasions, deceased sea turtles were photo-identified by scute patterns with underwater footages of live animals taken by recreational divers, implying the potential of utilizing these communal records for life history monitoring. To encourage reporting of sea turtle sightings and strandings by the public, a mobile application has been developed to leverage citizen science effort into research and conservation. This not only improved the workflow of stranding response and postmortem investigation, but also provided valuable baseline population data. With the synergy of enhanced community education and streamlined reporting system via these immersive technologies and digital tools, we hope for better utilization of sea turtle data for their urged conservation.

The conservation of sea turtles is of utmost importance in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures and changing environmental conditions. Exploring the ecological history of these iconic marine reptiles using bioheritage collections, including specimens from archaeological sites or museums, provides a unique opportunity to compare historical sea turtle populations to the present day. Historical ecology explores how ecosystems have changed over time and the implications for present ecosystems. By analysing stable isotopes of archaeological green turtle bones from the Levant, we found indications that foraging habits changed across different time periods. This shift was potentially in response to varying environmental conditions or climate change, offering insights which could aid in the understanding of how sea turtle populations may react to future scenarios. Furthermore, investigating the genomics of past sea turtle populations offers potential for valuable insights into the historical dynamics of these species. Understanding how genetic diversity has shifted between past and present can provide essential context for assessing potential genetic bottlenecks within contemporary populations. Here we explore the preservation of genomic ancient DNA in archaeological and museum specimens to explore the feasibility of population genetic analyses comparing past and present.

In addition to ecological parameters, historical ecology may enable the quantification of human exploitation of sea turtles in the past. By examining historical records, such as those from the Dutch East India Company, there is an opportunity to gain a better understanding of historic removal numbers from respective geographic areas. These insights may serve as important baselines for assessing the current status of sea turtle ecology and determining the level of human impact over time. By including examples of how historical ecology has been applied to sea turtle research, this presentation highlights the opportunities the field holds for biologists and conservation practitioners. By combining data from bioheritage collections, stable isotope analysis, genetic studies, and historical records, researchers can better understand historical changes and their drivers. This underexploited information can contribute to developing strategies to ensure the conservation of sea turtles in the Anthropocene, offering a longue durée perspective on their ecology.

The state of Melaka is one of the important key nesting grounds for Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Malaysia and has a regional conservation value due to its critically endangered global status and significant annual nest numbers. However, the highly developed coastline of Melaka leads to severe habitat loss and degradation (e.g., coastal erosion, unsustainable development and land use, excessive light pollution, installation of the sea wall, etc.) and uncontrolled coastal human activities (e.g., mass tourism, fisheries, and coastal pollution) are examples of the challenging scenarios for the nesting turtles. To address these threats, a Turtle Friendly Village (TFV) initiative was first introduced in 2016 at Padang Kemunting, a small coastal fishing village known as one of the main nesting areas. TFV integrates multiple conservation efforts and improves the economic livelihood of local communities that depend on these turtles. The strategy intends to (1) transform a high human-turtle interaction area into a rehabilitated nesting habitat by incorporating and empowering the local communities, and (2) benefit their livelihood through the involvement of turtle conservation-themed activities (e.g., eco-voluntourism, recycling and waste management, cultural handicrafts, and tree replanting). With support from local agencies, this initiative aims to achieve the first turtle sanctuary gazettement and a total egg ban legislation in the state of Melaka. Our study highlights a community-based strategy to address threats to hawksbill turtles in the state.

Sea turtle organizations have diverse funding options. This presentation will take a closer look at corporate partnerships. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is becoming increasingly important for both companies and non-governmental organizations, partly due to the social and environmental consequences of globalization and climate change.

Many companies are willing to take on social responsibility and engage in philanthropic activities, often in collaboration with non-profit organizations. The nature of these collaborations is diverse, ranging from monetary donations to cause-related marketing campaigns, sponsorship activities or collaborative projects. Companies engage in philanthropy driven by varied motives—some for altruism, others for marketing advantages, reputation enhancement, or employee motivation. Legal obligations or tax benefits also prompt donations. For sea turtle organizations, corporate contributions can serve as a funding source and support them to realize their projects.

However, the mere establishment of a partnership does not guarantee successful implementation. Both parties should build a relationship and consider different preferences regarding support. Successful collaborations between companies and nonprofit organizations can be mutually beneficial, creating a widely touted "win-win situation" if both sides are aware of their interests and needs.

One challenge in this context is the phenomenon of greenwashing. Here, companies try to create an environmentally friendly image through PR and marketing measures, while the company's primary activities are still environmentally harmful and anything but sustainable, creating a misleading public image. Partnerships with sea turtle organizations, which are often perceived positively by the public, are particularly popular as greenwashing tools. Despite the financial incentives, the organization should remain true to its values and choose its partner carefully. A negative corporate image or loss of reputation can have a negative impact on the public perception of the NGO, too.

The effort an NGO has to put into managing a corporate partnership must also be taken into account. Some collaborations can require a considerable amount of work from the NGO, which is often not sufficiently compensated for by the company's financial support. One recommendation is that NGOs should draw up guidelines and conditions for cooperation and sponsorship projects. These guidelines could evaluate partnership requests based on the proposed funding, duration and type of company involved. In addition, existing collaborations should be regularly evaluated and deviations from expectations should be openly communicated.

Collaboration between companies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will become increasingly important in the coming years. We will explore the drivers and expected outcomes of partnerships between companies and sea turtle-focused NGOs. The session will provide insights into successful and fruitful collaborations, as well as instances where partnerships have faced challenges. In addition, the discussion will explore best practices and the valuable lessons learned from these collaborative efforts.

The Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) has been working in Panama since 2003. During all these years the main goal of our organization has been to preserve the sea turtle populations in the Caribbean Sea developing different conservations strategies. The most important strategy is to decrease illegal sea turtle activities. To this end, involving the local communities in conservation activities is a priority, and offering an economical alternative to local families that use the turtles as a recurse to survive is necessary. Thanks to our conservations efforts during those years in Panama, the number of nests poached, and turtles hunted at the beaches where we work have decreased considerably, and the number of turtles and successful nests increased every year.

Basically, our conservation strategies and efforts implemented in the region have focused on the nesting beaches and the results are very encouraging. However, we know that there is a lack of information about what is happening in the sea, where the fishermen and poachers are hunting turtles. Sometime locals accidentally kill a turtle due to bycatch, but other times hunting activities are directed to the turtles, especially during the mating season, when it is easiest to find them and catch them both, male and female at the same time.

During the last few years, neighbors in the area have contacted us to inform us about boats hunting turtles, nets taken from nesting beaches, and others illegal activities. Recently, we started an in-water program to identify the different areas in of Bocas del Toro archipelago to determine where the turtles are, which development stages are more abundant, and which are the areas of highest risk due of the presence of poachers. Different operatives are being conducted between the Police, Navy and STC staff, trying to decrease those illegal activities. However, we realized that that during the operatives it was very difficult to find the poachers. We think that the poachers and fishermen are probably being informed about the operatives. Fortunately, even without catching any poachers, the presence of the authorities in the sea serves as a deterrent to poaching activities. Since 2020, a local fisherman from the Bocas del Drago area is working with us, helping with the morning track surveys, and providing us information about where the poachers are hunting turtles. Thanks to this information, the number of poached turtles found in the last three years in the Drago area is higher than any other years, which demonstrates the importance of having people from the area working together with the conservation organizations and local authorities to be able to do a better job and to document poaching activity.