Don Chuy (ex-fisherman and now Grupo Tortuguero field coordinator) explaining Pancho (fisherman) how to measure turtles and fill the datasheet.

We have been working in San Ignacio Lagoon since 2006, first to conduct mortality censuses of marine turtles and then in 2010 to understand short-term movements of marine turtles and their interaction with various fishing gears. San Ignacio lagoon was identified as a major mortality hotspot for marine turtle bycatch. Another important source of mortality we identified was direct hunting for consumption. Since 2009, we have virtually eliminated marine turtle bycatch in the lagoon.

In 2010, we started to focus more on the young members of the community and educational activities through the San Ignacio sea Turtle Festival and the One Month For Conservation. This year, thanks to the RSG grant we will continue our educational activities in collaboration with many local partners but we will also be able to implement a monitoring of marine turtles in the southern part of the lagoon. While from a scientific point of view, this will bring new knowledge about animals living in this part of lagoon, from a social/community point of view we hope to put the bases for a future eco-tourism project run by the local community.