The Territory observed World Sea Turtle Day on June 16 celebrating the importance of the species to Virgin Islands culture, history and tourism product.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration and the Association of Reef Keepers (ARK) will be at Cooper Island continuing research by tagging some of the resident turtles found in Manchioneel Bay.

World Sea Turtle Day is observed on the birthday of Dr. Archie Carr. Dr. Carr is renowned for his seminal work in Costa Rica which began in the 1950s and over the years he became known as the Grandfather of sea turtle research.

Without his work, the life cycles of sea turtles may have never been known and the attention his work has brought to the decline in sea turtle populations today would have never been discovered. Sea turtles would have become another extinct species that residents and visitors to the Virgin Islands would not be able to enjoy seeing as they forage in our waters and nest on our beaches.   

In the BVI, ARK celebrates this day along with WIDECAST (Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Network), World Wildlife Federation (WWF) and The Sea Turtle Conservancy, amongst many other organisations dedicated to sea turtle research and conservation.

 ARK proudly continues Dr. Carr’s research through turtle tagging that first started in the late 1990s with nesting leatherbacks under the Environment and Climate Change Unit and since 2002, in-water tagging of foraging green and hawksbill turtles.

The Ministry of Natural Resources remains committed to effectively manage and administer the natural resources of the Territory in a manner that ensures long term sustainability.

For more informtion Contact:
Association of Reef Keepters
info@bviark.org