STRP-HEART NEWS t-Briefs NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Issue 2                               Mar-April 2005

  

Organization News

 

Four Kemp's ridleys Nest in Padre!

Kemp's ridley nesting season got started a bit late this year, but it's rolling along now!  Read about the nests at Padre Island.  We should expect our first nesting any time now, so stay on patrol, and don't forget to report your hours!

Read more about this.

 

 

New Patrol Manual Posted on the Website: Let's Hit the Beaches!

See the Patrol Pages: the How, Where, When, and What-to-do information for beach patrolling. 

Read more about this.

Go to Patrol Manual

Go to Report Hours

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Sea Turtle News

 

LOCAL: Surfside Fishermen Abandon Fish to Rescue Loggerhead

Two local Surfisde Fishermen give up their fishing trip to rescue a loggerhead stuck on an abandoned trout line.  1-866-TURTLE-5 hotline comes in handy, Shanna Kethan of NOAA Fisheries transports turtle to Houston Zoo for Surgery.

 Read more about this.

 

NATIONAL:  Florida Paddle Boat Tour Group Re-routes to save Turtle

A paddle boat tour was rerouted by the captain to rescue and transport a stranded loggerhead turtle.  The tour guests were enthusiastic and glad to help.

Read more about this.

 

WORLD: Malaysian Officials Seize Chinese Trawler with Endangered Cargo

Officials seized the catch and arrested the occupants of a Chinese trawler that had over 100 loggerhead sea turtles on board, twenty of them still alive.  The live turtles were released, and the fishermen face serious charges. 

Read more about this.

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Action

 

Emails, Letters, Phone Calls Needed

Federal officials announced Thursday they will review this year whether to maintain the threatened and endangered statuses for sea turtles. Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service announced that they would accept public comment until July 20.    

Read more about this.

 

 

 Help to Encourage a Marine Preserve at Padre Island National Seashore

The Padre Island National Seashore is home to endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles after a struggle of 25 years to save them from extinction.   Unfortunately, some Texas officials favor the drilling of gas wells close to the nesting beach for the turtles, but we must  protect these sea turtles in the state waters (out nine nautical miles) adjacent to the Padre Island National Seashore.  Texas citizens and tourists by the thousands have visited the National Seashore because of the Kemp's ridley program there.  We now need another step to protect them. 

Read more about this.

 

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Calendar of Upcoming Events
May 21	Group Patrol for May; somewhere near Galveston Island State Park
June 16 & 26	The Citizens' Guide to Migration and Flying WILD workshops

 

 

 

HEART was organized in 1982 to save the Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempi) from extinction by educating the public and supporting conservation laws that protect sea turtles. HEART serves as an educational referral source for teachers and students seeking information about the Kemp's ridleys and all sea turtles. A grass roots, all-volunteer organization, HEART strives to inform the public of breaking news about Kemp's ridleys and the challenges facing their survival. The organization merged with the Sea Turtle Restoration Project effective August 1, 2002.  The organization has grown to include nesting season beach patrolling and local community organizing in order to help preserve the sea turtles and continue to increase their numbers.

 

This e-brief and its contents are the responsibility of the writer.  All rights reserved.

HEART and the Sea Turtle Restoration Project are 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.  Donations can be sent in care of HEART, P.O. Box 681231. Houston, TX 77268-1231

 

 Contact june@savetexasseaturtles.org for questions or for more information or call Carole Allen at 281-444-6204.