Basseterre, St. Kitts (March 30, 2007): The launch of Sea Turtle Hotline has been the backdrop against which several activities of the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network (SKSTMN) has promoted the preservation of these endangered sea creatures.
Coordinator of SKSTMN Dr. Kimberly Stewart said that the Hotline is doing well due to calls of concerned residents. She said on one occasion, a call resulted in stopping a fisherman from illegally catching sea turtles.
Prior to the launch of the Hotline, SKSTMN collaborated with Small Islands Voice (SIV), the Ministry of Education and partners to conduct a Sea Turtle Poster Competition. This gave students the opportunity to display their artistic talent as well as find out about the sea turtles that nest on our shores and the importance of preserving them. Denicia Phipps of the Irish Town Primary won the five to eight age category while Terrencia Versailles of the Sandy Point Primary won the nine to twelve age category and Kris Liburd of the Charlestown Secondary won the 13 to 16 age category.
There were also consolation prizes of Best Use of Colour which went to Ellen Terry of the Lynn Jeffers school and Judges Choice was Amy Rivas of the Montessori Academy.
The School with the Most Teacher Participation is the Irish Town Primary and the School with the Most Student Participation was Lynn Jeffers, while the Award of Merit went to Mrs. C. Cogger of the Irish Town Primary.
The winners and runners up of the competition received various prizes including a voucher for a night walk with one guest to observe nesting sea turtles along the beach. Dr. Stewart took the opportunity to remind the winners that they could make arrangements for this prize by calling the Sea Turtle Hotline at 764-6664, advisably during the peak nesting months of April, May or June to increase their chances of seeing turtles. She also said that the first leatherback nest was sighted February 24 between the Cayon to Keys stretch of beach while to date, a total of 16 leatherback nests have been observed.
Another activity of SKSTMN involves the tagging of sea turtles. With much pleasure, Dr. Stewart revealed that this season turtle monitors observed the return of the first turtle that had been tagged by her organization. The tagging date was April 26, 2005.
A highlight of this years activities is the hosting of a Caribbean Sea Turtle Health Workshop which takes place April 07 to 10, 2007 at Ross University. .~~adz:Right~~
Sessions include the "Status of the Turtle Fishery in St. Kitts," "Common Diseases, Pertinent Rehabilitation Issues, Anesthesia and Surgery," and "Investigations into the population genetics of Caribbean Hawksbill Turtles." The general public is invited to the lectures on Sunday which run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Following the lunch break they resume at 1:00 p.m. and conclude at 5:30 p.m.
SKSTMN also undertakes monthly beach clean-up activities. Dr. Stewart said that at the last three clean-ups, approximately 5000 pounds of refuse was removed from the Cayon to Keys coastline. The clean-ups take place in collaboration with various partners including SIV members and the Back Chat conch shells.
Other activities undertaken by SKSTMN are the "Turtle Times" newsletter which is available online at www.stkittsturtles.com . Plans are also in motion for a childrens camp which should take place in May this year.
