Twenty years of partnerships: WIDECAST, the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network

Abstract

WIDECAST was founded in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 1981 to work on behalf of six species of sea turtle encountered in the Wider Caribbean Region. The network embraces 39 states and territories in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and includes Bermuda and Brazil as well. There are WIDECAST Country Coordinators resident in 32 of these states and territories. Country Coordinators are drawn from governmental and non-governmental sectors and must have sea turtle research and/or management experience. To achieve WIDECAST objectives, Country Coordinators work in partnership with a national coalition of stakeholders, including scientists, conservationists, resource managers, resource users, policymakers, coastal landowners, educators, and others.