Nava, M.

We focused our 2007 work on six objectives designed to help us achieve our mission:

• Science - Improved understanding of sea turtle biology through research in order to guide conservation efforts in benefit of these endangered species.
• Conservation - Effective management and conservation of Bonaire’s sea turtles and their habitats, resulting in improvements in environmental policy; law and enforcement that ensure conservation and recovery; clean nesting sites; and abundant, high quality foraging habitats.
• Education and Public Awareness - Increased public awareness of, and concern for, sea turtle conservation, resulting in increased volunteerism and participation in conservation policy, action and advocacy.
• Training and Collaboration - Provision of training and collaboration opportunities for conservation volunteers and workers that results in increased capacity, locally and throughout the region, for sea turtle conservation efforts.
• Fund Development - Increased financial investment, both public and private, in support of the protection and recovery of Bonaire’s sea turtle populations.
• Organizational Development - Development, maintenance, and use of systems and resources that facilitate effective operation of the organization 

Our 2008 work plan focused on the following objectives to help us achieve our mission:

• Science - Improved understanding of sea turtle biology through research in order to guide conservation efforts in benefit of these endangered species.
• Conservation - Effective management, conservation and advocacy on behalf of Bonaire’s sea turtles and their habitats, resulting in improvements in environmental policy, law and enforcement that ensure conservation and recovery; clean nesting sites; and abundant, high quality foraging habitats.
• Education and Public Awareness - Increased public awareness of, and concern for, sea turtle conservation, resulting in increased volunteerism and participation in conservation policy, action and advocacy.
• Training and Collaboration - Provision of training and collaboration opportunities for conservation volunteers and workers that results in increased capacity, locally and throughout the region, for sea turtle conservation efforts.
• Fund Development - Ongoing public and private financial investment in support of the protection and recovery of Bonaire’s sea turtle populations.
• Organizational Development - Development, maintenance, and use of systems and resources that facilitate effective operation of the organization. 

In 2010, we completed our 8th year of systematic research on the sea turtles of Bonaire. In this report you will read about the methods and results of our sea turtle research and monitoring activities, including nesting beach monitoring, foraging ground surveys, and turtle migration tracking.

Four of the Wider Caribbean’s six species of sea turtles are found in the waters of Bonaire. They are: the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbracata), the green turtle, (Chelonia mydas), the loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea). The hawksbill and leatherback are considered “critically endangered” throughout their global ranges; and the green and loggerhead considered “endangered”. Bonaire offers a relatively safe haven for foraging juvenile hawksbill and green turtles, as well as critical nesting grounds for hawksbill, loggerhead, green, and the occasional leatherback. 

PROJECT SUMMARY

Project Goals:

1. Protect the seagrass beds at the shoreline of the Blue Zone
2. Increase windsurfer compliance to the White Zone no-go boundary
3. Reduce recreational user damage to the coral reef

Activities:

1. Floating lines and small floats were installed to protect the seagrass beds in the heavily-used areas at the Sorobon peninsula. 
2. Turnaround buoys were intended to be placed at the White Zone boundary. As the name implies, windsurfers must turn around at these markers. Commercial use is prohibited in the White Zone.
3. Six buoys were placed in the Yellow Zone beside the coral reef. Users are instructed to use caution in this area and reminded that the reef is a “no touch” zone. The buoys are also designated moorings for kayaks.
4. An information and awareness program informed users about the issue, the project and the related regulations. 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNMENT POLICY

Immediate action:

• Install turnaround buoys to mark the border of the White and Blue zones.
• Contribute funding for ongoing expenses of this project (see 2010 Budget page 5).
• Take measures to reduce the impact of users:

1. Correct the footprints of the existing businesses which have encroached beyond their permitted limits.
2. Place capacity limits on number of beach chairs, restaurant seating, and number of sailboards rented per day.
3. Restrict foot traffic to designated paths to reduce damage to dune vegetation. o Make funds and personnel available to enforce user regulations, most critically during the cruise ship season.
4. Do not grant additional business permits for this area until maximum capacity limits have been determined.

• Take measures to reduce vehicle impact to Sorobon peninsula:

1. Create a designated parking lot and restrict all public/taxi/tour parking to that lot. Designate narrow driving lanes to reduce the number of cars, compaction of the soil and damage to vegetation.

Other action:

• Enact policy, regulation and enforcement, and devote adequate funds to manage Lac for the long term.
• Fund and implement the Lac Bay Management Plan (Renken 2003). At the same time, undertake a careful revision of the plan to encompass current conditions and scientific knowledge.
• As part of the above:

1. Adopt all recommended Ramsar guidelines.
2. Establish and enforce caps on day use-entry to the area.
3. Establish and levy a reasonable use fee for businesses (excluding traditional fishing) that use Lac. Dedicate proceeds exclusively for the protection and management of the area. 

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) is a non-governmental, non-profit, research and conservation organization that began in 1991. Our mission is to ensure the protection and recovery of Bonaire’s sea turtle populations throughout their range.

Three species of sea turtles are found in the waters of Bonaire. They are: the hawksbill, the green turtle, and the loggerhead. The hawksbill is considered “critically endangered” throughout its global ranges; and the green and loggerhead considered “endangered”. Bonaire offers a relatively safe haven for foraging juvenile hawksbill and green turtles, as well as critical nesting grounds for hawksbill, loggerhead, green, and the incidental leatherback.

In 2011, we completed our 9th year of systematic research on the sea turtles of Bonaire. In this report you will read about the methods and results of our research and monitoring activities, which include nesting beach monitoring, foraging ground surveys, and turtle migration tracking. With our nesting beach monitoring, we track turtle nesting activity, determine nest size and productivity, and estimate the number of hatchlings produced. With our foraging ground surveys we tag, measure and photo- graph individual turtles and establish catch-per-unit-effort measures of turtle abundance. We inspect our captured turtles for signs of illness or injury, including fibropapillomatosis, which we first saw on green turtles at Lac Bay in 2005. Our recapture of previously tagged turtles provides valuable insight into turtle residency duration, recruitment, home range, growth rates, and habitat quality. With satellite telemetry, we are able to identify the migration paths and distant feeding grounds used by our breeding and nesting turtles.

Using the information we gather in our research and monitoring activities, we are able to identify and implement conservation efforts to improve the direct protection of Bonaire’s sea turtles and their environments. Our activities also include partnerships and initiatives that focus on the bigger picture and use sea turtle conservation as a focal point to drive and stimulate conservation awareness and efforts. 

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire proudly presents its 2012 Bonaire Sea Turtle Research and Monitoring Report.
In this report you will read about the methods and results of our sea turtle research and monitoring activities, which include nesting beach monitoring, foraging ground surveys, turtle migration tracking, and responding to reports of turtle strandings. With our nesting beach monitoring, we track turtle nesting activity, determine nest size and productivity, and estimate the number of hatchlings produced. With our foraging ground surveys we capture, tag, measure and photograph individual turtles and establish catch-per-unit-effort measures of turtle abundance. We inspect the turtles for signs of illness or injury, including fibropapillomatosis. Our recapture of previously tagged turtles provides valuable insight into turtle residency duration, home range, growth rates, and habitat quality. With satellite telemetry, we are able to identify the migration paths and distant feeding grounds used by our breeding and nesting turtles. Our follow-up on reports of turtle strandings has resulted in the occasional rescue of sea turtles and has helped us to identify threats and take actions to mitigate problems.
New research was started in 2012 with funding from IMARES (the Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies in the Netherlands). Using abundance surveys and deploying dataloggers we began to study the foraging use of Lac by hawksbill turtles. The results so far demonstrate that these turtles regularly move in and out of the bay, and indicate that this area is an important turtle foraging area for not only green but hawksbill turtles as well. This continuing research will be helpful in strengthening our case for the importance of protecting Lac.
We use the information gathered in our research and monitoring activities to identify and implement conservation, education, and advocacy efforts needed to ensure protection of Bonaire’s sea turtles. We also use sea turtle conservation as a focal point to drive and stimulate general conservation awareness and efforts. For information about these other important activities of STCB, please visit our STCB website.