(The Valley, Anguilla) – Over the last two weeks the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources, in partnership with the Anguilla National Trust and the University of Roehampton, have deployed three satellite tags on turtles foraging around Anguilla.
This is part of a three year project funded by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature entitled “Saving the sea turtles of Anguilla: combining community action with scientific evidence to drive legislative change”.
These satellite tags allow us to follow where these turtles are online, and will provide us with critical information on their movements around the island.
The first turtle, a foraging Hawksbill, was named ‘Isaac’ due to being found in the shallow water close to Isaac’s Cliffs. The second and third turtles, tagged on Tuesday at Island Harbour, have yet to be named.
The Department is currently asking the local schools to suggest names for these two ocean travellers, with submissions also being used for subsequent tagging.
During the project it is hoped to tag twenty four turtles, which means all suggestions stand a good chance of being used.
To submit your ideas please message us through Facebook at Fisheries Anguilla, or email us at fisheriesmr@gov.ai