SEA TURTLE FORAGING AREAS
The turtles featured in the Sea Turtle Migration Paths map highlights the key foraging areas for adult sea turtles in the western Caribbean Sea. According to the satellite tracks, there are four key foraging areas for adult sea turtles in Belize:
Starting in the northern part of Belize we have Myles (2003) who migrated to the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve, a green sea turtle that was tagged in the Cayman Islands along with Shelby, who also travelled to the Western Caribbean, but to nearby Punta Manabique in neighboring Guatemala.
The next large aggregation of migration points is in the Robinson Point area where both the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle and the endangered green sea turtle forage. Zenit (Costa Rica) and
The turtles featured in the Sea Turtle Migration Paths map highlights the key foraging areas for adult sea turtles in the western Caribbean Sea. According to the satellite tracks, there are four key foraging areas for adult sea turtles in Belize:
- Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve
- Robinson Point
- South Water Caye Marine Reserve
- Port Honduras Marine Reserve
Starting in the northern part of Belize we have Myles (2003) who migrated to the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve, a green sea turtle that was tagged in the Cayman Islands along with Shelby, who also travelled to the Western Caribbean, but to nearby Punta Manabique in neighboring Guatemala.
The next large aggregation of migration points is in the Robinson Point area where both the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle and the endangered green sea turtle forage. Zenit (Costa Rica) and
Caytraveller (Cayman Islands raised at the Turtle Farm!) were two green sea turtles tracked here, while the hawksbills - Ginger (Honduras) and Hope, Peace and Moochula (Belize) - also forage at Robinson Point.
Moving down the coast of Belize the next area where sea turtles with satellite tags travelled to is in and east of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve where we have the hawksbills Jamaica (Jamaica), Gale and Peace (Belize).
The fourth area where migrating sea turtles forage is in and to the north of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve. Greater Hope & Carenato (Belize/Gales Point) hawksbills forage in this marine protected area.
All but one sea turtle tracked in and to Belize, forage inside the Belize Barrier Reef along the Victoria Channel, suggesting this area is the most important foraging area for adult sea turtles.
Moving down the coast of Belize the next area where sea turtles with satellite tags travelled to is in and east of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve where we have the hawksbills Jamaica (Jamaica), Gale and Peace (Belize).
The fourth area where migrating sea turtles forage is in and to the north of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve. Greater Hope & Carenato (Belize/Gales Point) hawksbills forage in this marine protected area.
All but one sea turtle tracked in and to Belize, forage inside the Belize Barrier Reef along the Victoria Channel, suggesting this area is the most important foraging area for adult sea turtles.
