A project started 40 years ago by local conservationists has been celebrated for helping scientists around the world discover more about sea turtles and their regional migrations.

The Bermuda Turtle Project (BTP) began in 1968. The idea was to use research and education to draw attention to the need to conserve sea turtles in general and the endangered green turtle in particular.

"They're an endangered species throughout the world," said Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo curator Ian Walker.

"Bermuda actually doesn't have nesting turtles or if we do, they are very few and far between and we don't see them. The point of the project is to study the turtles in our waters."

Over the past four decades, the BTP has taken a leading role in conducting tagging programmes and compiling data, especially on juvenile green turtles. Part of its success lies in the fact that the island serves as a feeding ground for the young green turtles, which sometimes spend up to 20 years developing here before migrating south as adults to mate and lay eggs.

Around 200 juvenile green and hawksbill turtles are caught and tagged annually in the Bermuda programme, some of which are fastened with satellite transmitters. The information gained is used to transfer vital knowledge to scientists about turtles and their regional migrations. "Bermuda is an important area in the western Atlantic region for these animals, and we are proud to be partners with other conservation groups in efforts to protect them," said BZS marine biologist and BTP co-ordinator, Mark Outerbridge.

"The data we generate during our field-trips and by using tags and transmitters has tremendous value in finding out more about these turtles ¿ and learning where they go next."

In recognition of strides made over the past 40 years, and to aid further research, six representatives from the Caribbean and Central America joined BZS scientists as they tagged turtles in the annual expedition, which started August 4, and ends today.

The participants included students and representatives from governments, wildlife groups and fisheries agencies in nations frequented by sea turtles, including Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua and the US.

"We invited them to learn what they do and for them to learn what we do," explained Dr. Walker. "It's a great cross-collaboration and it brings together great knowledge and professionalism." Had that protection not been there, the island would most likely have recorded the turtles' demise, he added. "Especially for people who enjoy nature, it's something they don't want to see," the curator stated. "Sea turtles take many years to mature so it's hard to say exactly what would have happened (without it). It is subjective, but people have said they see more, that the numbers seem to be growing and there is a greater awareness of the sea turtle."

The scientist said the research thus far has provided "a good understanding" of sea turtles and their behaviour. "We have a good understanding of where they are coming from, where they are going to. We have a better understanding of the sex ratios in Bermuda's waters. We also have knowledge of the nasty threats to sea turtles and a better understanding of their impact on sea turtles."

The latter is aided by a necropsy course offered by BAMZ, which enables scientists to examine turtles. The programme has provided "a particularly good idea of the turtles' anatomy and a good idea of the causes of death", the curator added.

Plastic, eroded by the water until it resembles a small ball, remains a serious threat.

"When they're at a young age they eat indiscriminately," Dr. Walker explained. "It's normally fine as they eat Sargasso, but today there's tar and plastic floating in there as well and small turtles are eating them."

Fishing nets are also a danger and boats are "a frequent problem" with turtles unable to get away from the propellers in time.

"An advantage (gained through the research) is we now know where to watch out for sea turtles and can place signs so (the public) knows where they are because they have definite site fidelity," he said, giving the example of a turtle tagged and re-tagged over a span of 14 years in the same place on the same day. It is subjective, but what's nice in Bermuda is that people can see that populations have come back (even though) there are a lot more threats for turtles."

Fibro papilloma, a viral disease common in the Caribbean and Hawaii, was detected for the first time in one of Bermuda's turtles last year.

"Bermuda had been pristine but it's been here one year and it has the potential to spread so we're keeping a close eye on it," Dr. Walker stated. "The disease produces large tumours on the skin and in the body cavity. It starts with the eyes, so they can't see and the animals become emaciated and unable to survive in the wild. Eventually, a predator will take them out."

Over the past 13 years, the BTP has offered a biology and conservation of sea turtles course, which has benefited 106 students from Bermuda, the Caribbean, Canada, India, the Netherlands, UK, US, Central and South America. Foreign participants learn about sea turtles during the annual ten-day fieldtrips and often return to set up similar conservation and research efforts in their home countries. The result often encourages alternative livelihoods for local communities by developing eco-friendly options to previous ways of life once destructive to wildlife and natural habitats.

"Overall (the BTP) is an amazing project that gets a lot of great environmentalists together and promotes teamwork," the curator stated. "From Bermuda's standpoint, the Caribbean and various countries benefit. As a result, we see a lot more sea turtle and environmental work in other countries now."

Visit www.cccturtle.org/bermuda/index2.