Gallow's Point In-Water Sea Turtle Surveys

Gallow's Point Reef is a 5 mile section of the Belize Barrier Reef 10 miles east of Belize City that extends from the St. George's Caye Channel south.  The coral reef ecosystem and associated sea grass beds provide important developmental habitat for juvenile, sub-adult and adult sea turtles.  The most abundant species recorded here is the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle, whose shell is coveted for making jewelry and other items.  Our studies at Gallow's Point aim to assess the importance of this small section of the Belize Barrier Reef for hawksbill sea turtles, and others that utilize the area.
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Map showing location of Gallow's Point Reef.
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Captured turtles are placed on styrofoam noodles and boat cushions while on board and wetted down repeatedly. Photo ECOMAR.
ECOMAR has been conducting in-water snorkel surveys to assess sea turtle abundance and diversity at Gallow's Point since 2009.  Our studies have shown that the fore reef is important developmental habitat for juvenile hawksbill sea turtles.

The methodology for these surveys is quite simple – snorkel the reef, record species and size of turtles sighted, and attempt to capture turtles observed.  The last part sounds a lot easier than itactually is, since turtles swim VERY fast underwater!  Traditional fisherman become important conservation assistants since they spend their days on the seas and have the skills required to swim quickly and dive deep to capture sea turtles.  

Survey teams mark the location where they begin with a GPS, record the time, and swim parallel to one another and the reef to cover a large area of reef.  The depth they survey is between 10-30 feet, and those that can dive deeper survey the deeper waters. When a turtle is observed the team takes turns free diving down to caoture the turtle.  When successful the diver holds onto the mid points of the turtle carapce and holds it head up allowing the turtle to swim to the surface on its own. 

The location and species of sea turtle is recorded and a series of measurements are taken on the boat including size and weight, and they are also tagged using flipper and/or PIT tags depending on their size so that when they are recaptured in future surveys, the data can be compared.  

Finally, before release, biopsy, or tissue samples are taken.  These tissue samples are taken so that DNA analysis can be completed to identify the birth beach of the sea turtle as sea turtles always return to the beach of their birth to nest.  
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Fishermen Martin Pariente Jr becomes a conservation assistance when he assists ECOMAR with our In-Water Turtle Surveys at Gallow's Point. He and Melanie Day are preparing the turtle for measurements prior to release. Photo ECOMAR.
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Juvenile hawksbill turtle with a small flipper tag. Photo courtesy Hol Chan Marine Reserve.
Photos of the carapace and head are also taken to aid in our photo ID studies.  The turtle is then released back into the sea to continue on their way!

1st Annual Belize
In-Water Sea Turtle Survey

Through the 2011 Belize Sea Turtle Census, with support from the Gulf & Caribbean Fisheries Institute and participation by our partners in the Belize Sea Turtle Conservation Network, we were able to replicate these surveys throughout the country and launched the 1st Annual  Belize In-Water Sea Turtle Survey.  Check back for full details and results on this important survey on sea turtles in Belize!
PO Box 1234
Belize City, Belize
TEL: + (501) 223-3022
CEL: + (501) 671-3483

Email: linda@ecomarbelize.org
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