If all of the above are true, then how does development 

 drive turtles away? I personally believe that properly regulated 

 development can be partially compatible with nesting turtles. 

 The intended development at Pasture Bay will provide us with an 

 invaluable research opportunity to measure the before-and-after 

 development stress on the turtles. We had better be successful, 

 because the development will not stop. If something has to go, 

 it will be the turtles. There must be a serious research effort 

 initiated throughout the Caribbean to identify and mitigate 

 disturbance associated with resort development. Is it lights, 

 habitat disturbance, human harassment, noise, presence of dogs, 

 taking of eggs by resort staff, something else, or all of the 

 above? If the turtles must leave, will they go somewhere else, 

 and how far? Research is needed now to answer these questions. 



Acknowledgments 



I wish to thank lOCARIBE and the U.S. National Marine 

 Fisheries Service for causing this amazing series of meetings 

 (WATS I and WATS II) to happen. The positive effect on research 

 and conservation of Caribbean sea turtles has already been 

 dramatic and will continue to guide recovery and management 

 efforts for years to come. Please do it again! There are many 

 of us standing in the wings to help, if you can use our services. 



I also want to thank Peter Pritchard and Scott and Karen 

 Eckert who have provided me with most of the magnificent slides I 

 have used in this presentation. 



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