Building on a successful first year, the SEE Turtles conservation tourism program is relaunching its website with a new look and expanded offerings. Visitors to the website will find a variety of new trips to participate in sea turtle conservation and research in beautiful surroundings. SEE Turtles creates partnerships with leading tour operators and organizations to promote travel to sea turtle hotspots where a modest amount of tourism can greatly benefit conservation efforts.

Our travel partners, who pledge to support local efforts, include Earthwatch Institute, EcoTeach, Journey Mexico, Baja Expeditions, The Pathmaster, and Solimar Travel. Each trip generates donations for turtle conservation and creates alternatives to turtle poaching or irresponsible fishing in small coastal communities in Baja California Mexico, Costa Rica, and Trinidad & Tobago.

“Working with SEE Turtles allows us to directly support turtle conservation efforts in Costa Rica,” says Deb Smucker, owner of Seattle-based EcoTeach. “These trips give people a chance to do something special on vacation, to know the ocean is better off for their visit.”

Offerings this year include:
· Costa Rica: Walk leatherback turtle nesting sites, visit indigenous communities, learn yoga, and relax on pristine Caribbean beaches;
· Baja California Sur: Opportunities to help researchers monitor turtle populations at sea, see gray whales and their calves, and kayak mangroves;
· Trinidad & Tobago: One of the top nesting sites for leatherback turtles in the world, these islands offer both stunning natural beauty and unique cultures.

In its first year, SEE Turtles has proved that turtle watching can help protect endangered sea turtles. We generated more than $40,000 for conservation and turtle communities through fees, donations, grants, and indirect spending. Through magazines, blogs, and presentations, we have educated more than 9 million people about turtles and how they can help. Travelers have learned how to act appropriately around sea turtles using our Best Practices for Turtle Watching guidelines.

SEE Turtles is part of Ocean Revolution, sponsored by The Ocean Foundation.

For more information about sea turtle conservation tourism opportunities and how to book a trip, visit www.seeturtles.org or contact Brad Nahill (brad@oceanrevolution.org)

Source
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