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INSPIRING ACTION, CREATING WAVES

HOW YOUR SUPPORT HELPS

PROJECT

Pilot Study Conducted by Ocean Spirits

Grenada’s beaches and coastal waters support nesting and foraging aggregations of endangered green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and of critically endangered hawksbills turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata). During the 2021 nesting season, Ocean Spirits completed a two-week survey of the Hawksbill turtle nesting population in preparation for a larger, longer term project.

The pilot study defined standardised ‘new to Grenada’ methodologies for restraint morphometrics and venepuncture methodologies which are applicable on land and on a small remote island location.

Surveys of biodiversity of invasive species, and of hatchling success rates, were also performed. All turtles encountered were fitted with Monel ID tags and PIT (Passive Integrated Transponders) tags, with biometric data and blood samples also collected for genetic characterisation and health and disease analysis.

Nightly surveys also provided protection against illegal egg harvesting. 

PROJECT

Genotyping and Satellite Tracking of Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles in Grenada

Towards the start of 2022 a collaboration was launched between ourselves, Ocean Spirits, University of Plymouth and St George’s University in Grenada was launched. This would be our follow on project from our initial pilot study with Ocean Spirits. This also involved us funding a ReSM student Naomi Westlake from UoP working with St Georges University and Ocean Spirits. 

Naomi will use a combination of techniques to identify the origin and migration corridors of Grenada’s critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles and endangered green sea turtles. This will include carrying out DNA analyses and using satellite tag tracking, as well as protecting the turtles’ nesting grounds. The outcome of this hopes to inform national and regional conservation policies.

With this research we aim to understand more about the migration of the turtles, their nesting habits and the measures required to support
their conservation. This project will ensure that the 2022-23 nesting season is fully protected from any hunting, allowing the baby turtles of these endangered species to hatch and re-enter the water. 

We are very excited to build our partnerships with the partners involved in this project and see the outcomes of this research, and proud to be supporting our first Student. 

PROJECT

Emergency Sea Turtle Hotline

Starting in May 2022 we funded a new project with the Barbados Sea Turtle Project (University of the West Indies). OMEF is supporting the 24hour turtle hotline for the 2022 nesting season. Our funding translates directly to saved lives of turtles, from nesting females in difficulty to the  thousands of hatchlings who find themselves disorientated and the eggs which are at risk from predation and erosion. 

The creation of this hotline has been crucial to the success of Barbados becoming the largest population of nesting Hawksbill turtles in the insular Caribbean within the past 3 decades. With the increase in number of turtles, there are also more threats, new developments on nesting beaches create significant hazards along with the impact of sea level rise, extreme weather events and erosion also presenting significant threats to nesting females and the success of their eggs.

The hotline’s activity in the 2021 nesting season rescued 63,265 hatchlings, thousands of nests were recorded, endangered eggs saved and over 10 nesting females saved from life threatening situations. Some of these were trapped in boulders, in danger of drowning, some trapped in canals, fell into drains and others strayed into roads. In 2021 just over 2000 hotline calls were received and responded to. 

We are very proud to be able to support the Barbados Sea Turtle Project and their fantastic work for this 2022 nesting season. 

We are grateful to Susan Angoy for her generous donation to the OMEF. As a result of her donation, we can fund the BSTP Hotline and Nesting Index programmes for the 2022 season.

CREATING LASTING WAVES

VOLUNTEER WORK

There are so many ways in which you can get involved, from donating financially to donating your time, and without the support from our wonderful volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to move forward with our ambitions to create a world full of thriving oceans for generations to come.

We will be sharing some new volunteering roles over the coming months, so please keep an eye out on our website and social media channels. If you’re interested in getting more involved or have your own ideas on how you could support us, you can always email us at secretary@omef.org.uk

Find out how you can make your own environmental waves; start by helping at home.

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Without your support, we wouldn’t be able to continue doing what we do. By making a donation, you are helping us to create lasting waves and realise our vision for the future of marine conservation.

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© OMEF 2023 | Oscar Montgomery Environmental Foundation
A Charity Registered In England And Wales (1190365).
Suite 2, Fairgate House, 205 Kings Road, Tyseley, Birmingham B11 2AA

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