Press Release - Sea turtle research in Albania (Lilly Velasquez (1987 Laureate)

PRESS RELEASE
January 27th 2010

Sea Turtle Research in Albania
Patok: An Important Habitat

Within the framework of MEDASSET’s sea turtle conservation programmes in the Mediterranean, research, capacity building and awareness-raising is being carried out since 2008 in Patok, at the northern coast of Albania in the Adriatic Sea, in collaboration with the Albanian Herpetofauna Society.
 
During the second year of the project “Monitoring and Conservation of Important Sea Turtle Feeding Grounds in the Patok Area of Albania, 2008-2010”, 137 sea turtles were tagged and released in collaboration with the local fishing community.  A remarkable number of 245 turtles have been tagged since 2008 at Patok, providing evidence that this is a significant foraging area for loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles travelling through the Mediterranean.
 

Release of turtles fitted with
transmitter

The population structure of turtles captured as bycatch in local “stavnike” fish-traps was also investigated. Sixty six adult and adolescent males have been tagged at Patok, indicating that males may be using the area both as a developmental and foraging habitat. “This discovery has increased importance due to our presently limited understanding of the distribution and marine ecology of male sea turtles and also because of the threatened impact of global climate change, which may force embryonic sex-ratios of turtles towards female-dominance” says Dr. Michael White, Project Lead Researcher. Moreover, 8.6% of the turtles were found for the second time at Patok, suggesting that Albania may also form part of their migratory route.
 
In order to further investigate the migration of these mystery travellers, three turtles (two males and one female) were fitted with transmitters on the September 12th 2009 and the first satellite tracking programme of sea turtles in Albania was launched from Patok. “Shpresa” (Hope) has remained within the broader area of Patok, while “Guximtari” (Brave), a true homeboy, has remained within a 6km distance from the release site. “Patoku”, an international traveller, has covered so far 630.10km and is now in Greek waters just off the island of Corfu, in the Ionian Sea.

Training Students

Fulfilling its main goal for 2009 to focus on capacity building, the project trained seven local university students as Research Assistants, thus providing the next generation of Albanian scientists the capacity to monitor the sea turtle population of their coastline. The project also offered over 70 Albanian university students the opportunity to attend workshops at Patok during the summer. Additional activities in 2009 included a waste pollution survey in the Patok area and the analysis of DNA samples collected during fieldwork in collaboration with Adnan Menderes University (Turkey). Throughout t! he project locals and tourists are informed about the sea turtles’plight while awareness is also raised through local and national media.
 
Unveiling sea turtle migratory patterns, their feeding areas and the threats they face, is fundamental for designing conservation strategies. The long-term aim of this project is for the Patok area to be recognised as a nationally and regionally important foraging habitat for sea turtles in the Mediterranean and that these endangered species are fully protected under Albanian national law. In 2010, launched by the UN as International Year of Biodiversity, the project team will focus on initiating the legislative process, in order to conserve Albania’s fragile biodiversity and protect the endangered sea turtles visiting its shores.
 
The 2009 Project Report with detailed information on the project activities and research results is available online in thePublications section of www.medasset.org  at: http://www.medasset.org/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=180&Itemid=85&lang=en

Visit Turtle Tracking to view the maps of the migration routes of “Shpresa”, “Guximtari” and “Patoku”.

MEDASSET - Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles &bull Licavitou 1C &bull Athens &bull  &bull 10672