New alliance to protect Atlantic’s leatherback turtles launched on World Sea Turtle Day: JUNE 16
University of Exeter
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Adult leatherback
view moreCredit: Banco de Imagens / Fundação Projeto TAMAR
A newly established alliance, comprising leading researchers and conservation experts, has mobilised to safeguard the Atlantic Ocean's leatherback turtle populations.
The Wilkes Atlantic Leatherback Turtle Alliance is led by the University of Exeter, with over 50 partner organisations in 25 countries around the Atlantic.
Leatherbacks are classified as “vulnerable” globally on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
However, the most recent regional conservation status assessments for leatherback turtles are concerning with sub-populations listed as “endangered” in the north-west Atlantic (updated in 2019), “critically endangered” in the south-west Atlantic (2013), and “data deficient” in the south-east Atlantic (2013).
This leaves an urgent need for updated assessments of the Atlantic leatherback populations, the threats they face, and the establishment of a strategic priority framework for targeted conservation interventions.
Announced today on World Sea Turtle Day, the new alliance aims to fill all three gaps.
Supported by the Wilkes Sea Turtle Protection Fund, the alliance will produce:
- An updated assessment of Atlantic leatherback turtle nesting.
- An ocean-wide assessment of evidence on leatherback “bycatch” (accidental capture in fisheries).
- An assessment of priorities for action.
Professor Annette Broderick, from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall, said: “Leatherback turtles in the Pacific Ocean have been in decline for several decades and until recently, the population in the Atlantic Ocean appeared to be doing OK.
“Alarm bells are however now starting to ring, and an ocean-wide assessment is needed to understand how different leatherback populations are responding to varying conservation efforts and threats.
“Using this hitherto unparalleled knowledge base, conservation action can target key populations or areas with significant bycatch issues.”
Exeter researchers have been involved in studying leatherbacks in all Atlantic regions for many decades alongside locally based conservation groups, communities and governments.
“Working with our existing network of collaborators, we’re building a partnership across Europe, Africa and the Americas,” said Professor Brendan Godley.
“The breadth of engagement we have received thus far demonstrates the timeliness of this important initiative.
“At a time when funding for such international research is being reduced, this alliance will help drive urgent and important work to underpin leatherback turtle conservation across the Atlantic.”
Leatherbacks in the Atlantic face a range of threats, most notably bycatch in fishing gear from both industrial and small-scale fisheries.
This is compounded by coastal development, degradation of nesting sites, some harvesting of adults and eggs, and climate change. Other threats include boat strikes and marine pollution.
Explaining why he is supporting the alliance, Adrian Wilkes – head of the Wilkes Sea Turtle Protection Fund – said: “I’m very concerned that extinction looms for the Atlantic leatherback sea turtle after millions of years on our planet.
“I’m therefore delighted to support this impressive team of leading international experts led by Professors Brendan Godley and Annette Broderick.
“The purpose of the alliance won’t be to just chronicle the end of the Leatherback species but to dictate the policies and actions by which we save them.
“The alliance’s research will be a vital wake up call to action for governments and key actors, notably the fishing industry. There is no time to waste to save these gentle marine giants.”
The Wilkes Atlantic Leatherback Turtle Alliance (WALTA) mission statement says: “Our mission is to advance the protection of Atlantic leatherback turtles through international collaborative research, strategic action planning, and evidence-based advocacy, building an alliance of committed partners to drive coordinated conservation action across the region.”
The WALTA team want to hear from potential partners around the Atlantic Ocean – including fishers, policymakers and donors.
To find out more and to contact WALTA, visit https://wilkesleatherbackalliance.org/
Adult bycatch
Credit
Banco de Imagens / Fundação Projeto TAMAR
Leatherback hatchlings [VIDEO] | EurekAlert! Science News Releases
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Fionn Crow / Shark Bay Films
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