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SANDWATCH - BEACH PROFILE
Marine Protected Areas managers throughout Belize that also manage shorelines are adding a new monitoring protocol to their annual workplans:  monitoring the beach profile.  This is part of UNESCO's SandWatch program that helps managers monitor changes in shorelines which can be caused by climate change which can impact sea turtle traditional nesting grounds.
In collaboration with many partners, ECOMAR organized a nationwide Sea Turtle Training Workshop in 2011.  While there is demand for annual workshops, resources for venue, travel are currently unavailable.  Through the Belize Turtle Watch Program many materials were developed under the project that are available for coastal property owners who would like to assist in monitoring their beaches for sea turtle nesting activity.  We also recommend the establishment of Sea Turtle Clubs in coastal communities to monitor beaches and keep them turtle friendly, and that interested persons and organizations Adopt a Beach.  

materials for citizen scientists

The Belize Turtle Watch program produced educational materials that can be used by coastal residents to aid them in monitoring their beaches and includes posters and fact sheets.

Materials for scientists

Available materials used in the workshops and applied in the field include:
  • Turtle Toolkit by WWF
  • Sandwatch Manual by UNESCO
  • Sea Turtle Nesting Beach Characterization Manual by WIDECAST

The Sea Turtle Training Workshop held for marine protected area biologists includes information on:
  • Sea turtle statistics
  • Fishery regulations
  • Illegal harvest
  • Species ID
  • Turtle track ID
  • Locating nest
  • Relocating nests
  • Night patrols
  • Tagging turtles
  • Stranding report
  • Rehabilitation
  • Necropsy
  • Climate change impacts
Marine protected area biologists from throughout Belize will return to their MPA and apply the lessons learned with their colleagues and collect data on their nesting beaches and foraging areas for inclusion in the updated Belize Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan.
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Nesting beach characterization training allows organizations to monitor changes in beach profiles that may be due to climate change.
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Kirah Forman, biologist from Hol Chan Marine Reserve, leads necropsy of sea turtles at the biologist training workshop.
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Roberto Herrera from ECOSUR in Mexico leads the nesting beach surveys and showed participants how to locate and relocate nests.
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ST GEORGE'S CAYE
Mailing Address: PO Box 1234, Belize City, Belize
Cel: + (501) 673-3022  Caye: + (501) 614-3483
Email:
[email protected]
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Copyright © 2023
  • Welcome
    • About >
      • Site Map
      • COMMUNITIES
      • Partners
      • Blog
    • References >
      • Classroom Tools
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Research Station
    • Research Trips >
      • Field Station
    • St George's Caye
    • Marine Research >
      • Conch
      • Dolphins
      • Fish
      • Manatees >
        • Manatees Research
        • Manatee ID >
          • Delfina
      • Sea Turtles >
        • Sea Turtle Rehab >
          • Bubbles
          • Grace
          • Hope 4 Freya
        • Gallow's Point >
          • Turtles Gallows Pt
          • Rhody Hope Majil
          • Hope 4 Nature
        • Robinson Point
    • Archaeology Project >
      • SGCAP 2014
      • SGCAP 2015
      • SGCAP 2016
  • Turtle Watch
    • Sea Turtle Census >
      • Nesting Beach Observations
      • In-Water Observations >
        • Photo ID
        • Turtle Recaptures
      • Stranded Sea Turtles >
        • Stranded Turtles 2010-2012
      • Illegal Take
    • Sea Turtle 101 >
      • Legislation
      • Classification
      • Anatomy
      • Life History
      • Species
      • Threats
      • Historical Importance
    • Nesting Beaches
    • Satellite Telemetry >
      • Tracking NOW >
        • St Kitts SASSY
      • Historical Tracks >
        • Belize BSTCN >
          • Gallow's Point ECOMAR
          • Gales Point GPWS
          • Hol Chan
          • Lighthouse BAS
          • Lighthouse MAR Alliance
          • Glovers ECOMAR
          • Glovers WCS
          • Port Honduras TIDE
        • Barbados UWI
        • Cayman Islands DOE
        • Costa Rica STC
        • Jamaica NOAA
        • Mexico NOAA
        • Mexico UNAM
      • Education Resources
    • Outreach Materials >
      • Turtle Watch Newsletters
    • Operation Green Turtle
    • Turtle Network >
      • In-Water Surveys
      • Sea Turtle Rehab
      • BSTCN Members
  • Coral Watch
    • Coral Bleaching 101 >
      • Healthy vs. Unhealthy Coral
      • Remote Sensing
    • Coral Watch Publications
    • Coral Network >
      • Coral Members
  • Lionfish
    • Lionfish Served Here!
    • History in Belize >
      • GCFI Fisherman Exchange
      • COMPACT Lionfish Project
    • Lionfish Publications
    • Caribbean Strategies >
      • Culling Protocol
  • Reef 365
    • Reef 365 Reports
  • Ocean Watch
    • Manatee Deaths >
      • 2017 Manatee Deaths
      • Archives Manatees
      • Manatee Facts
    • Climate Change
    • Oil Exploration
    • Ciguatera
    • Haulover Creek
    • Wildlife Interactions
  • Marine Mammals
    • Sightings >
      • False Killer Whale
      • Humpback Whale Sightings
      • Killer Whales
    • Whale Stamps
    • Marine Mammal Workshop >
      • Management Considerations
      • Interaction Guidelines
      • Vessels & Approaches
      • Swimming With Cetaceans
  • Get Involved
    • Adopt A Beach >
      • Adopt A Beach Sign Up
      • Adopted Beaches
    • Adopt A Reef >
      • Adopted Reefs
    • Volunteer
    • Reserve A Trip
  • Submit Report
    • Coral Watch
    • Lionfish Hunter
    • Oceans 365 Rare
    • Oceans 365 Report
    • Octopus
    • Turtle Watch In-Water
    • Turtle Watch Nesting Beach
    • Submit Report Nesting Beach Old
    • Turtle Shell 4 Sale
    • Turtle Watch Stranded
    • Marine Mammal Form
  • Gift Shop
  • Donate
  • Contact