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FIVE PROGRAMMES,
ONE PURPOSE: Ensuring the preservation & sustainability of our marine resources in the
British Virgin Islands. |
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ARK is a locally registered non-profit, VI Organisation #200057
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SEA TURTLE INJURED BY BOAT STRIKE IN THE NORTH SOUND
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A green sea turtle was hit by a boat in the North Sound near the Bitter End Yacht Club on Wednesday, February 21st. Her shell was sliced open by the prop, and her front right flipper was also broken. This turtle is considered a young adult based on her size and may already be reproducing or will be soon.
We are determined to get this turtle back to the ocean once it has fully healed, but we need your financial support. The purchase of a wound vac alone was over $7000, but it will speed up the healing process and can be used in the future for any type of open wound. We have been building the capacity to care for sick and injured sea turtles over the past few years, but this turtle is our most challenging. We have an extraordinary team of local vets, regional sea turtle experts and surgeons willing to save this turtle and any others in the future. We just need the funds to help this turtle and expand our capacity to handle future situations. Sending sick or injured turtles next door to the USVI is not an option. CITES permits are difficult to obtain and there are often biosecurity restrictions. |
The SEE Turtle Survey
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We currently monitor 6 turtle "hot spots" throughout the Territory, but extending our efforts is critical for sea turtle conservation management efforts.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Have you seen any turtles while out on or under the water? Let us know by clicking HERE to complete a short form or visit our SEE Turtle Survey Info Page for more information. Your efforts will help us to build our "inventory" of resident sea turtles over a larger spatial extent and identify new feeding grounds, changes in aggregation dynamics and any new threats. |
The STEEL Project
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We are now coming to the end of our 3-year, UK-funded Darwin Plus Initiative STEEL Project. The project webpage is currently being updated with our findings, including the ecological turtle data and feedback collected during our community engagement workshops. The film 'Sea Turtles in the British Virgin Islands: Balancing conservation & culture' can be viewed here.
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Press Related Articles
Film aims to help sea turtles (BVI Beacon) The Amazing Sea Turtle: Preserving A Cultural Icon (BVI Insider) |
The British Virgin Islands are a chain of small islands that mark the boundary between the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. These waters that surround our islands are filled with a nebulous amount of diverse marine resources that we have relied on for centuries.
However, here and around the world marine resources are being threatened by human behaviours that have occurred over many generations. While we can't change what is happening around the world, we can start in our own back yard.
However, here and around the world marine resources are being threatened by human behaviours that have occurred over many generations. While we can't change what is happening around the world, we can start in our own back yard.
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Our efforts simply started by aiming to:
* Use science-based evidence to encourage responsible decision-making * Promote local community participation * Educate the public |
Our strategy is to develop specific programmes that each have a positive impact on our marine resources.
Ultimately, we aim to ensure these programmes are financially sustainable to ensure ARK continues to benefit the local community for many years to come. |
"In the end we will conserve only what we love;
we will love only what we understand;
and we will understand only what we are taught."
-Baba Dioum
we will love only what we understand;
and we will understand only what we are taught."
-Baba Dioum
OUR KEY PROGRAMMES:
CORAL RESTORATION
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Restoring degraded reefs with coral nurseries.
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SUSTAINABLE CRUISING & YACHTING
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Aimed to educate the cruising and yachting community about best practices while on the water
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Marine Awareness Campaign
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RIDGE TO REEF
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A programme to facilitate community participation in public projects that help reduce flooding, island erosion and sedimentation in nearshore coastal waters.
The SeaSweep & SwampSweep projects were added to the Ridge to Reef Programme as an effort to clean up coastal habitats, particularly following the events of 2017.
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ARK EXPEDITIONS
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Reconnecting people with the natural environment using virtual reality
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The Association of Reef Keepers (ARK)
P. O. Box 3252
PMB #2106
Road Town, Tortola
British Virgin Islands
VG1110
(284) 546-0164
[email protected]
P. O. Box 3252
PMB #2106
Road Town, Tortola
British Virgin Islands
VG1110
(284) 546-0164
[email protected]
