Workshops

Workshop 1: Using drones for marine turtle research and conservation

Organizer: Alan Rees, University of Exeter, UK

Contact: a.f.rees@exeter.ac.uk

Description:
The three-hour session is intended to bring together sea turtle researchers that are experienced, novice and just interested in using UAVs or drones. The primary aims are to continue dialogue on the best use of UAVs for sea turtle studies and catalyse a network where technical advances and method development are shared.

The session would be divided into two interactive parts, where the attendees are encouraged to ask questions to the presenters and the group at large.

• Brief introduction to UAVs and technology
  • Types of UAV, their general properties
  • Data capture and processing options
  • Review of current level of relevant peer-reviewed literature
• Examples of UAV use
  • General outline of basic research topics
  • Brief demonstrations on some of the popular software used to control UAVs and process data
  • Brief presentations of UAV research undertaken by workshop participants

Workshop 2: Bio-logging for marine turtles

Organizer:
Sandra Hochscheid, Zoological Station Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy

Contact: sandra.hochscheid@szn.it

Description:
Telemetry and bio-logging devices are returning increasing amounts of information about marine animals from all the major taxa of top predators, including fish, birds, mammals and marine turtles. In ever-increasing detail, these devices provide information on where turtles go, how they behave and, to some extent, provide information on both the underlying physiological mechanisms and the environmental conditions surrounding them. Today’s rapid progresses in technology provide us with tools to study cryptic aspects of marine turtle biology that only a decade ago we could only dream of. However, with the increasing number of telemetry applications we are also facing a new challenge of handling and analyzing big data sets, so that the gathered information can be made available not only to the scientific community but to wildlife conservationists and decision makers as well. Ultimately, with the power of knowledge comes great responsibility and researchers have to juggle constantly between the need to develop evidence-based policies on the base of bio-logging data and the raising concern about animal welfare. A first specific workshop on bio-logging techniques employed in the study of marine turtles was held at the 35^th ISTS in Dalaman, Turkey, and was received with much enthusiasm and interest. Encouraged by this response, this follow-up workshop is intended to gather everyone in the Mediterranean who applies or nurses an interest in bio-logging techniques and to provide a general technological background and explore recent advances in the field. Special emphasis will be given to bio-logging studies in the Mediterranean exploring what has been done and what not, highlighting both acquired knowledge and remaining gaps that can be filled using the bio-logging approach. Moreover, the workshop is contextualized in the conference theme of “Building Synergies”, since bio-logging instruments are also widely applied to studies on other marine megafauna that share the same aims.

Also for this edition of the workshop a number of experts have been invited who will share their experience with you and introduce you to the following 4 topics:

1. Overview on Bio-logging studies on marine turtles in the Mediterranean – Sandra Hochscheid, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy
2. Ethical implications and impact of attaching devices on marine turtles – Robin Snape, University of Exeter, UK
3. BIG DATA – handling, storing, analysing and sharing – Marianna Chimienti, Aarhus University, Denmark
4. Emerging new technologies – Paolo Luschi, University of Pisa, Italy

After each presentation there will be a round table discussions during which bio-logging beginners will have the chance to talk to the experts and those already applying bio-logging techniques can update with current studies and exchange experiences, express concerns and suggest improvements.

Workshop 3: Impact of marine litter on sea turtles: building synergies across the Mediterranean for monitoring ingestion and entanglement.

Organizers:
Françoise CLARO, French Museum national d’Histoire naturelle
Gaëlle DARMON, Centre for Evolutionary and Functional Ecology
Claude MIAUD, Centre for Evolutionary and Functional Ecology
Delphine GAMBAIANI, Centre for Evolutionary and Functional Ecology
Jesús TOMÁS, Institute Cavanilles of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology
Ohaiana REVUELTA, Institute Cavanilles of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology
Lobna BEN NAKHLA, Specially protected Areas Regional Activity Center
Atef LIMAM, Specially protected Areas Regional Activity Center
Guido PIETROLUONGO, Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation

Contacts: claro@mnhn.fr, Gaelle.DARMON@cefe.cnrs.fr, lobna.bennakhla@spa-rac.org, guido.p@archipelago.gr, coordination@indicit-europa.eu

Description:
The ubiquitous marine litter is threatening sea turtles worldwide, in particular in the Mediterranean Sea which, because of its semi-closed configuration, the heavy urbanized coasts and the strong tourism pressure, is one of the most polluted seas in the world. Marine turtles feed in the water column and on the seafloor. Based on the species-specific feeding behaviour, these two marine compartments are addressed when quantifying litter in the digestive tract of live and dead stranded turtles.
Both stakeholders acting for the conservation of sea turtles and megafauna populations, and those in charge of marine environment policies work hand to hand for defining tools which will allow to assess the status of species and environment. In the Mediterranean Sea, stakeholders are seasonally recording stranding and bycatch events of live and dead specimens of Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas and Dermochelys coriacea which can be sampled to collect information on the impact of litter, as well as information on interactions between litter and other megafauna species (birds and marine mammals).
In order to develop an operational strategy for monitoring the impacts of litter on sea turtles and better act for their conservation, the development of specific protocols for the monitoring of the amount of litter ingested by- and entangling- sea turtles and other megafauna species, as well as the collection of standardized data by the Mediterranean networks are necessary. Sharing data and results can allow the scientific community to assess the seasonal trends and to plan conservation strategies. The establishment of a standardized monitoring is fundamental to evaluate the threat related to pollution and assess the efficiency of conservation measures. This will also allow to develop indicators of impact of anthropogenic marine debris. In particular, although an indicator of debris ingestion by sea turtles is already being considered for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Barcelona Regional Sea Convention, no indicator related to entanglement has been proposed in the framework of environmental policies nor is reported as such in stranding network databases.
This workshop aims at sharing the lessons learned and the standard tools built by existing monitoring initiatives at the Mediterranean and European scales, in order to identify the gaps of knowledge and the tools required to better monitor the impact of anthropogenic debris on sea turtles and other megafauna and enhance possible cooperation on this issue at the Mediterranean level. One of the outputs is to enlarge the existing regional Mediterranean network and identify needs for structuring/ reinforcing capacities through training.

Workshop 4: Towards a strategy to mitigate illegal trade in Mediterranean marine turtles

Organizers
Lobna Ben Nakhla, UNEP MAP-RAC/SPA Tunis, Tunisia
Atef Limam, UNEP MAP-RAC/SPA Tunis, Tunisia
Mohamed N. Bradai, Institute of Sciences and Technologies of the Sea, Sfax, Tunisia
Sami Karaa, University of Sfax, Tunisia
Imed Jribi, University of Sfax, Tunisia 

Contact: Lobna.bennakhla@spa-rac.org

Description:
Sea turtle stocks in the eastern Mediterranean basin suffered from severe exploitation until the mid-1960s. Estimates are of the order of 30,000 turtles (loggerheads and green turtles), captured from the end of the First World War to the 1930s. The exploitation of accidentally caught turtles follows the existence of some local traditions of the consumption of turtles meat and illegal trade in carapaces. Sea turtles have been sold until recent dates in some Mediterranean countries and are still exploited where thousands of turtles are slaughtered annually in the fish markets. Considering this situation, the MAVA project, developed within the implementation of the Mediterranean Sea turtle action plan and coordinated by SPA/RAC, is launching the elaboration of national strategies in two countries to combat the illegal trade in sea turtles. The workshop will be an opportunity to learn from the experience of other countries,  identify priorities and relevant and concrete mitigation measures.

Workshop 5: Whose biodiversity, whose value? Engaging with stakeholders to understand their perceptions

Organizers:
Peter Mackelworth, Blue World Institute & University of Primorska
Draško Holcer, Blue World Institute & Croatian Natural History Museum
Bojan Lazar, University of Primorska
Matic Jančič, University of Primorska & Blue World Institute

Contact: Peter.Mackelworth@blue-world.org

Description:
Increasingly funders require project beneficiaries to assess the impact of their conservation work on the socio-economic. According to Costanza et al. (1997) “Ecosystem goods (such as food) and services (such as waste assimilation) represent the benefits human populations derive, directly or indirectly, from ecosystem functions.” However, there is a lack of knowledge of the value of biodiversity, including the value of sea turtles. The workshop will focus on available methods for assessment of the role of species of conservation concern, such as sea turtles, that is understandable to both local stakeholders and visitors, and which can help develop conservation.  

Workshop 6: Mediterranean Medicine and Rehabilitation Workshop

Organizers:
Daniela Freggi, Lampedusa Sea Turtle Rescue Center,  Italy
Antonio Di Bello, Bari Univeristy, Italy
Mariluz Parga, SUBMON, Italy

Contacts: dafregg@tin.it

Description:
Exchanging experiences and procedures among the Mediterranean Sea Turtle Rescue Centres.
The proposal of this workshop emerges from the evidence of the numerous sea turtle rescue centres along the Mediterranean coasts. Most of them face emergencies without the support of expertise, and a lack of information may cause waste of energy and economical resources, uncertain results, and mostly a pain for animals.
The workshop is addressed to people directly involved in sea turtle rehabilitation and care, representing a rare opportunity to share rehab and medical skills, knowledge, experiences and standard operating procedures. Following the experiences made in previous Mediterranean Conferences and ISTS Symposia, we plan 2 different moments. First, some invited speakers will present brief presentations for a general audience focused on husbandry, critical care, soft tissues lesions, anaesthesia and surgery. The second moment will be the occasion for an open discussion among participants, with a particular attention to the high quality condition for management: we invite everyone to be an integral part of the debate.
The discussion will help a better update of the role of sea turtle rescue centres in our area and their future perspectives, supporting the realization of a network, functional to a better emergency organization, standardization of common protocols and medical administration, and in particular high quality systems for the convalescence of sea turtles.