Contribute To Red Sea Turtle Conservation Research

Have you booked your 2018 Red Sea liveaboard cruise? Then you can assist TurtleWatch Egypt with their conservation research.

Red Sea turtle dives, image courtesy of Andromeda

Red Sea turtle dives, image courtesy of Andromeda

TurtleWatch Egypt is a citizen science program that works with local NGO’s and dive-centres to catalogue green and hawksbill turtles in Egypt and the Red Sea. The project began in 2011 in collaboration with the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) and is focused on estimating the turtle demographics in the area (numbers and distribution). These findings will be used to pinpoint areas which require improved turtle protection throughout the Red Sea.

How can you contribute research data?
The TurtleWatch package can be downloaded from: http://www.boomerang4conservation.org/index.php/conservation-efforts/turtlewatch-egypt/turtlewatch-package, your package will include:

  • the TurtleWatch Manual (in .pdf);
  • the TurtleWatch survey form (in .pdf);
  • the TurtleWatch logo/ban that you can add to your website;
  • a set of Red Sea turtle identification sheets (in .pdf) and
  • a database where to report your sightings (in .xls).

In addition to the package, divers will need an underwater camera, a marker stick or tape measure to estimate the turtle straight carapace length (details are included in the manual) and a device with an internet connection to email the data.

Divers are asked to photograph both sides of the turtle’s face, although this is sometimes not so easy… Images, together with the dive site name, liveaboard/dive centre name, dive-guide, the date and your name must be sent to Boomerang For Earth Conservation. By comparing the scale patterns from both sides of the head, individuals can be recognised by these unique markings and their locations recorded by the TurtleWatch team. As a contributor, you will receive regular updates on the project.

If you’re passionate about conserving our marine ninjas for future generations, then book your Red Sea liveaboard cruise now and download your TurtleWatch package!

If you are interested in a Red Sea diving holiday let us know and we will make it happen! send us an email.

Or you can contact Dive The World right away on +66 (0)94 582 7973 / (0)83 505 7794 or for other inquiries …

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Categorized under: Egypt, Nature/Wildlife
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Published 17 Oct 2018