WIDECAST : Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network : Activity highlights 2019-2020

Abstract

Sea turtles, once abundant in the Caribbean Sea and serving as keystone species in tropical marine ecosystems, are severely reduced from historical levels, both in population size and range. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, persistent over-exploitation, especially of gravid females, and widespread collection of eggs are primarily responsible for observed declines at regional and global scales. All six species of Caribbean-occurring sea turtle are listed in Annex II of the SPAW Protocol, affording them the full weight of protection under the Cartagena Convention and its Protocols. These are the highlights and follow up actions for the 2019-2020 year at the Widecast: Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network.