Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan for Barbados - WIDECAST

CEP Technical Report No. 12
Page 34
4.53 WIDECAST
The Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Recovery Team and Conservation Network, known as
WIDECAST, consists of a regional team of sea turtle experts which works closely with
in-country coordinators, who in turn enlist the support and participation of citizens in and out of
government who have an interest in sea turtle conservation. The primary project outputs are Sea
Turtle Recovery Action Plans (STRAPs) for each of 39 government regions, including Barbados,
in the Wider Caribbean. Each STRAP is tailored specifically to local circumstances and
provides the following information:
1. The status and distribution of nesting and feeding sea turtles.
2. The major causes of mortality to sea turtles.
3. The effectiveness of existing national and international laws protecting sea
turtles.
4. The present and historical role of sea turtles in local culture and economy.
5. Local, national and multi-lateral implementing measures for scientifically
sound sea turtle conservation.
The short-term objectives of WIDECAST are to provide Wider Caribbean governments
with updated information on the status of sea turtles in the region, to provide specific
recommendations for the management and recovery of endangered, threatened, and vulnerable
sea turtle stocks, and to assist Wider Caribbean governments in the discharge of their obligations
under the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) in the Wider
Caribbean Region (see section 4.32). The longer-term objectives are to promote a regional
capability to implement scientifically sound sea turtle conservation programmes. Specifically, to
develop and support a technical understanding of sea turtle biology and management among
local individuals and organizations by:
1. Implementing WIDECAST through resident Country Coordinators.
2. Utilizing local network participants to collect information and draft, under
the supervision of regional sea turtle experts, locally appropriate sea turtle
management recommendations.
3. Providing or assisting in the development of educational materials (slides,
brochures, posters, pamphlets).
4. Sponsoring or supporting local or sub-regional workshops on sea turtle
biology and management.
5. Assisting governments and non-government groups with the implementation
of effective management and conservation projects for sea turtles.
Beyond supporting the local and national efforts of governments and non-governmental
organizations, WIDECAST works to integrate these efforts into a collective regional response to
a common problem, the disappearance of sea turtles. WIDECAST is supported by the UNEP
Caribbean Environment Programme, as well as by governmental and non-governmental agencies
and groups. The Country Coordinator in Barbados, also a member of the WIDECAST regional
Recovery Team, is Dr. Julia Horrocks of the Department of Biology, University of the West
Indies and Bellairs Research Institute. Bellairs Research Institute is the Lead Organization for