Turtle goes to the warmer waters

Suzie the green turtle is prepared for her long journey

University of Exeter scientists at the Tremough Campus, Penryn are working on the first project to monitor a turtle's journey from the Caicos Islands.

Dr Annette Broderick and Tom Stringell, a PhD student, have been working with organisations in the Caribbean.

Suzie is an adult female green turtle. She was bought from a fisherman and fitted with a satellite transmitter tag.

Suzie's tag transmits her location when she surfaces to breath.

Dr Annette Broderick said: "Suzie's trip so far has been amazing. By showing that she has moved from one UK territory to the next we have highlighted the importance of international co-operation for the conservation of migratory animals such as marine turtles.

"The fact that Suzie was captured by fishermen and destined for the pot shows the need to gather more information on these populations.

"Tracking sea turtles not only informs conservation management, but is a great educational tool. Before her release Suzie visited local school children and they are now following her progress on the web."

Tom Stringell meets Suzie before her journey

Biodiversity Programme Manager for the MCS, Peter Richardson said: "We would never have predicted that [Suzie] would visit three UK territories in a row without stopping at any of the other countries on the way.

"Suzie has revealed that each of these Territories has a responsibility to look after their shared turtle resource."

The territories each have different laws to manage their turtle fisheries. The Turks and Caicos Islands a forbid nesting females and their eggs to be taken on the nesting beaches.

They do allow some turtles to be captured at sea, depending on the size of the shell, the species and the time of year.

By contrast, the Government of Anguilla imposed a 15-year, temporary ban on all turtle fishing in 2005, to allow numbers to recover.