Not only is June 16, 2013 being celebrated as Father's Day around the world, it also happens to be World Sea Turtle Day! 

June 16th is also the birthdate for Archie Carr, founding father of sea turtle conservation in the Caribbean.  The Sea Turtle Conservancy launched this annual celebration earlier this decade to commemorate Archie Carr's contribution to sea turtle conservation and to honor sea turtles.

In celebration of World Sea Turtle Day, the Belize Sea Turtle Conservation Network has launched a commemorative poster "1993-2013 Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Protecting Hawksbill Sea Turtles in Belize!"  The original artwork featuring 

the endangered hawksbill sea turtle is by Hol Chan Marine Reserve Conservation Office Elgar Badillo.  The message in the poster, Protecting Turtles Today, for Tomorrow, is the slogan of the Belize Turtle Watch Program.

For more information on how you can assist in protecting and conserving sea turtles please consider Adopting A Beach or Adopting a Reef today!  When you Adopt A Beach you'll  submit regular reports after you monitor your beach and when you Adopt A Reef you'll submit reports of sea turtle sightings under the sea.  The results will be compiled in our 2013 Annual Sea Turtle Census Report. 

Help us Protect Turtle Today, for Tomorrow!!!

ECOMAR is reaching out to stakeholders throughout Belize with a special edition newsletter "Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Protecting Hawskbill Turtles in Belize."

The newsletter summarizes World Turtle Day, the historical importance of sea turtles to Belize, Fishery Regulations that now protect all sea turtles, how important sea turtles are for our growing marine tourism industry and future generations, and how coastal residents throughout Belize can get involved in "Protecting Turtles Today for Tomorrow!"

We hope you will join us and Adopt A Reef or Adopt A Beach this year to help celebrate this important milestone in the protection of sea turtles in Belize!

We did not think it was going to be as easy as it was, but yesterday when Prosser delivered our new 5000 gallon water vat to Moho Landing in Belize City, and we rolled it onto the dock and into Sea Sports boat Baracuda, it was a perfect fit!  A team of 4 joined a team of 3 at the caye to unload and put in place at the Garber Cottage at ECOMAR's St. George's Caye Research Station & Field School! 

The vat was put in place just in time for the rains which are forecast to come on May 28th.  More on this historical forecast which the Maya and other cultures around the world predicted annually and depended so much on, as we still do today!  Come on rain, we are ready for you now!

Kudos to the Belize Times for informing their readers about World Turtle Day!  In Mariposa's Kids Corner page they feature 3 fun games for kids (and adults!) that aim to educate and increase awareness on turtles!  Its really great to see the local papers taking an interest in our turtles in Belize.  Great job Belize Times & Staff!  Everyone please go get your Belize Times and have some fun on Page 25 or play them right here!

Destination Belize, the official tourism magazine of Belize produced by Idea Lab Studios featured sea turtles in their 2013 edition.

LInda Searle wrote the article summarizing the Turtle Watch Program and outlined ways in which coastal residents and visitors can help "Protect Turtle Today for Tomorrow."

This is a great way to showcase and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the protection of hawksbill sea turtles in Belize.

Look out for more activities aimed at increasing awareness of sea turtle conservation this year.

Next big date is May 23, World Sea Turtle Day!

The results suggest that coral bleaching is occurring at high levels in the shallow sites, where the boulder/mound corals are more impacted.  In fact the level of whole bleaching is a great cause for concern and Coral Network members SEA - Southern Environmental Association - will have their biologists visit the area and confirm if the level of severity is as great as reported.

With the warmer summer months approaching we are asking everyone to take their Coral Watch slate with them while they dive or snorkel, record your observations, and submit the results online!