Successful turtle tagging concludes apprentice programme

Roadtown, Tortola - Three apprentices were delighted to participate in the final In-Water Turtle Tagging and Release Programming as part of the Conservation and Fisheries Department’s Apprentice for the Day Programme.

Apprentices Keianna Smith, Sabrina and Mara Deane participated in Tuesday’s Turtle Tagging and Release exercise where they tagged a young green turtle found in coastal waters near Jost Van Dyke.

Co-chair of Environment Month activities and coordinator of the Apprentice for a Day programme, Mr. Joel Dore explained the importance of the Apprentice programme and the turtle tagging and release initiative.

“Some of the primary reasons for the turtle tagging and release programme are to monitor population growth, growth status and growth per species of turtles in the territory.  It also monitors migration patterns of turtles in the Territory and throughout the Caribbean,” Mr. Dore said.

“Turtles are part of our tourism product and we must have data to monitor their progress.  From our studies we have found that green turtles grow faster than hawksbill and there are varying species that can be seen more prominently at different times of the year,” Mr. Dore continued.
Apprentice Sabrina Deane described the programme as fun, educational and exciting.

“It was an experience to see the bottom of the ocean around us.  It was beautiful.  Although you could see the effects of global warming such as coral bleaching it was such an experience to catch, tag and release the sea turtle,” Sabrina Deane said.

There are four species of turtles to which the Virgin Islands provide a habitat: the Green Turtle, Hawksbill, Leatherbacks and Loggerheads.

From the Apprentice for A Day programme, a total of 13 persons gained a deeper knowledge of the environment and the roles and responsibilities of the Conservation and Fisheries Department officers. The department hopes to extend the programme to reach a wider base and plans to branch out into schools and non-profit organizations.

The Apprentice for a Day programme was part of activities coordinated by the Conservation and Fisheries Department in observance of Environment Month, observed here throughout June. The activities conclude with the 20th annual Fisherman’s Day Celebration on Friday, July 3.