The Caribbean presents a fascinating paradox in the sea turtle conservation story.

On one hand, Costa Rica hosts the world’s longest running and most iconic sea turtle conservation initiative. Meanwhile, just up the coast in the neighbouring Nicaragua, one of the world’s few legal sea turtle fisheries flourish.

So how does this contradiction play out for sea turtles of the Caribbean?

As we know by now sea turtles are global citizens, caring not for our political boundaries. The Caribbean green turtles are no different, for they nest in massive numbers in Costa Rica and forage in Nicaragua.

In Episode 8, Brazilian Sea Turtle Biologist, Renato Bruno, uses the story of the Caribbean green turtle to touch upon the messier realities of sea turtle conservation - the history of sea turtle take in the region which then spurred conservation action, to the nuanced present day dynamics of both illegal and legal harvest across the Caribbean, and even the intriguing interactions between two endangered species - jaguars and sea turtles.

So join us for a compelling conversation that examines the successes and challenges of sea turtle conservation in a region rich with culture, complexities and contradictions.

Links for additional reading:

• Lagueux, C., Campbell, C., & Strindberg, S. (2017). Artisanal green turtle (Chelonia mydas) fishery of Caribbean Nicaragua: II. Characterization and trends in size, sex, and maturity status of turtles killed, 1994–2011. Marine Biology.
• Asociacion Salvemos las Tortugas de Parismina
• Turtle Love
• Jaguars & Sea Turtles Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

To support Olive Ridley Project’s work in sea turtle conservation, you can - Name and Adopt a wild sea turtle, Adopt a turtle patient or Donate here: https://oliveridleyproject.org/donate

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Credits:

Sea Turtle Stories podcast is presented by Olive Ridley Project

The host for the podcast series is Dr Minnie Liddell

The podcast is edited, mixed and mastered by Dev Ramkumar

The podcast series is produced and researched by Anadya Singh