Description organization

Sea turtles clearly play important roles in marine eco systems. By grazing on seagrass, controlling sponge distribution, feasting on jellyfish, transporting nutrients or supporting other marine life, sea turtles play vital roles in maintaining the health of the oceans.

This organisation, founded in 1959, began its work in Costa Rica, but has expanded its research and conservation efforts throughout Central America and the Wider Caribbean and uses research, habitat protection, public education, community outreach, networking and advocacy as its basic tools.This NGO is the world’s oldest sea turtle research and conservation group.  Over the course of nearly 60 years, this NGO´s research programs have yielded much of what is now known about sea turtles and the threats they face, and the organization is applying this knowledge to carry out the world’s most successful sea turtle protection and recovery programs. 

Two main species of sea turtles come to nest at Playa Bluff in Bocas del Toro permanently: the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata). Several human related activities threaten the continuity of these species, the most important are the theft of nests and the killing the turtles on the beach. We can also add the plundering of nests by pets, compaction of the beaches by vehicles or constructions, the killing of females and males at the time of copulation in the sea off the beaches, and the capture incidentally while fishing for tuna or using longlines.

 

Mission

Ensure the survival of sea turtles within the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific through research, education, training, advocacy and protection of the natural habitats upon which they depend.

 

Location

Bocas del Toro, Panama.

 

Fields of study

Education, Environment & Sustainability, Applied Biology

 

Supervision

The coordinator of Investigation in the Sea Turtle Conservancy will be your main supervisor.

 

Requirements

Spanish level A2 (min)