Antigua Diving - Hawksbill Turtle
indigo-divers.com
Curious hawksbill turtle diving in Antigua.
Sea Shepherd Antigua & Barbuda Turtle Conservation by Luxury Locations
How the Sea Shepherd turned its attention to some of Barbuda’s most vulnerable residents.
Given the name, one might expect Motor Vessel Brigitte Bardot to be a little more glamorous. But what this unique 35-metre trimaran lacks in luxury facilities, she makes up for in record-breaking speeds, a sleek, futuristic exterior and innovative technology.
Stepping aboard is a bit like coming face to face with a celebrity. M/V Brigitte Bardot has certainly notched up a few headlines since her purchase by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) in 2010. She also had a starring role in TV reality show Whale Wars which documented the group’s battles to stop the slaughter of whales by Japanese vessels off the Antarctica coast.
Originally named Gojira – Japanese for ‘Godzilla’ – her refashioned title is in homage to the actress-turned-activist who once joined SSCS’s founder Paul Watson on an anti-sealing mission.
The Bardot has circumnavigated the world on various maritime missions “six or seven” times under SSCS’s stewardship. And it’s not just the ship which has found itself at the centre of controversy over the years. Her tenacious crew have been shot at, hauled before courts and dubbed everything from heroes to pirates – and even the somewhat dubious ‘eco-terrorists’ which conjures up a paradoxical image of AK-wielding vegans, grenades stuffed into their sustainably-sourced alpaca wool pants.
In the flesh, dockside in Antigua, they’re distinctly less dramatic. SSCS’s latest crusade is poles apart from their erstwhile paintbomb-firing, ship-ramming antics. And this time it isn’t whales they’re shepherding – but sea turtles. Barbuda’s cherished and critically endangered hawksbills to be precise.
Their presence here started “spontaneously” in the aftermath of September 2017’s catastrophic Hurricane Irma, SSCS’s Locky MacLean, a softly-spoken Canadian, tells Luxury Locations Magazine.
With the category five storm’s devastation stretching from the Leeward Islands to Florida, aid agencies appealed to SSCS, who had a boat in Cancun at the time, for assistance. For two months, the crew helped deliver emergency supplies to affected islands.
That resulted in a partnership with Mykl Clovis of the Antigua Sea Turtle Project (ASTP), herself a former SSCS volunteer, for a three-week survey collating data on the intriguing creatures during their peak nesting season.
Much of the work was conducted at night, patrolling 11 miles of Barbuda’s beachfront on the hunt for turtle tracks, old nests and turtles laying eggs.
The team used drones to locate hawksbills, along with leatherbacks and green turtles. They documented more than 60 nests, electronically tagged over a dozen turtles to monitor their movements, and even, to their delight, identified a handful of previously tagged returnees.
“Hawksbills play a major role in marine ecosystems because they feed on sponges,” Mykl explains. “Without them, sponges would overgrow coral reefs.”
The endeavour was a “change in pace” for Rebecca Benjamin-Carey, one of SSCS’s eight crew aboard the Bardot.
“There’s a lot more affecting the ocean than poaching these days – pollution for example,” Rebecca says. “A Sea Shepherd intervention can bring to light just how much human beings can reduce their own impact. Rather than focus on the bad guys this was about the role we can all play.”
Another reason the Caribbean has captured SSCS’s attention is due to the volume of illegal and unregulated fishing.
“The Caribbean is a place where we’re developing relationships and setting up critical operations,” Locky says. “Our ships are perfect for this region.”
The Bardot recently underwent a major refit, including replacing the propulsion engines, generators and propellers, in preparation. Built in 1997 to circumnavigate the globe in record time, she held the title for a decade until her 75-day feat was beaten by the Ady Gil in 2008. The Japanese whaling vessels which she was bought by SSCS to outrun were no match for her top speeds of 27 knots. Her impressive, imposing exterior is somewhat at odds with her small, modest interior.
Turtles may have inhabited the oceans for millennia but today six of the seven marine species found worldwide face extinction. The Barbuda project is one way of ensuring their survival.
For Locky, who joined Sea Shepherd in 2001 as a cook and is now operations and campaigns director, the decision to help was an easy one.
“You can choose your job so you may as well do something you love,” he says, adding: “The Sea Shepherd is hard work and we put in a lot of hours but it’s definitely fulfilling and you can end the day thinking, I made a difference today.”
Visit seashepherd.org for more information about the non-profit group and how you can help.
By Gemma Handy
Hawksbill Turtle Laying Eggs Jumby Bay Antigua
TURTLE RESCUE ON SEA SHEPHERD’S FINAL PATROL
Sea Shepherd and Antigua Sea Turtle Project (ASTP)rescued a critically endangered hawksbill turtle while conducting surveys and conservation patrols of key sea turtle nesting sites on Antigua and Barbuda.
Learn more and support at seashepherd.org/jairo
Turtles in antigua!
23/11/12 St. James's Resort turtles hatching at around 12:00 midday!
Snorkeling in Antigua & Barbuda
Snorkeling trip around Antigua exploring shipwreck and sealife
The Lone Hawksbill
A lone surviving hawksbill hatchling makes its way to the ocean. Read more about this impressive hatchling at:
Video by: Randall Mora Vargas – Patrolling Director, Equipo Tora Carey
Operation Jairo Caribbean: Turtle Rescue
Sea Shepherd and Antigua Sea Turtle Project save a turtle
Support our mission at:
#OpJairo #SeaShepherd
letsgo2 Galley Bay - Antigua
Between a bird sanctuary and three quarter mile stretch of beach, on the west coast of Antigua, is the unique resort of Galley Bay. It's been built using local supplies and preserving the natural environment. All the rooms are nestled away between palm trees, but on the beach. Soak up the Caribbean sun or enjoy the vast range of activities they have to offer.
Lanai Day Trip February 22, 2019 Snorkel Hawksbill Sea Turtles
Lanai Day Trip February 22, 2019 Snorkel Hawksbill Sea Turtles
Snorkeling Antigua: Cades Reef Adventure - Antigua Snorkeling, on the Edge!
More great Snorkeling Adventures - out and around in Antigua with guests of ReefView Apartments.
Private boat charter takes honeymoon couple snorkeling to Cades Reef and beyond..... reefviewapartments.com
Carlisle Bay - EliteWeddingCollection.com
Carlisle Bay, St. Mary's, Antigua, Caribbean wedding and honeymoon location at EliteWeddingCollection.com
Hawksbill Beach at Sunset (Antigua - 2012)
Una delle nostre spiaggia preferite ad Antigua per godersi il tramonto.
Redonda
A small rock island called Redonda, in the middle of the Caribbean with goats, birds, and rats awaits for are arrival. Are mission was to rescue two goats and zip line them down the cliff to the boat to take them back to Antigua so they don't have to eat cacti anymore.
Sea Shepherd Op Jairo Caribbean - Day Patrol
#OpJairo Update ????❤️???? Every two days, the turtle researchers cover 11 Mile Beach look for fresh crawls. Researcher Kate Levasseur finds tracks and a possible nest belonging to a Hawksbill turtle. Support our mission at:
Wadadli Animal Nature Park promo
Clips of our Park
St John Waterfront Vacation Rental - CLIFFHANGER
Cliffhanger is an amazing waterfront vacation rental on St John in the US Virgin Islands. 3 air-conditioned Master Bedooms and 4 Full Bathrooms, Unbelievable Views, Full Kitchen and all of the Amenities. Check out more details at stjohnhomesandvillas.com/cliffhanger
Call 1-800-965-1650 to reserve today
or text to 340-626-8229
Original Music by Jared Warren
Turtle Sculpture by Michael Hunt, Cedars Pottery
Short Shoots features Michael Hunt of Cedars Pottery. Here he takes on one of the biggest creative challenges of his life. Originally aired in 2005 on HaMaTV. For more on Michael and his work visit cedarspottery.com
USAID Biodiversity In the Caribbean.
SEA SHEPHERD SAVES ENDANGERED TURTLE ON FINAL CARIBBEAN PATROL
SEA SHEPHERD SAVES ENDANGERED TURTLE ON FINAL CARIBBEAN PATROL
SEA SHEPHERD SAVES ENDANGERED TURTLE ON FINAL CARIBBEAN PATROL
Antigua and Barbuda, Aug. 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Operation Jairo Videos and photographs On July 31st, the crew of Sea Shepherd’s The MV Brigitte Bardot, together with researchers from the Antigua Sea Turtle Project (ASTP), rescued an endangered sea turtle on the beaches of Barbuda during Operation Jairo Caribbean. The turtle, a critically endangered hawksbill, had come ashore to nest and became trapped under a rocky ledge. Unable to free herself, she could not return to the ocean. “She wed...
SUBSCRIBE To Our Channel :
Facebook :
Twitter :
Google+ :
Pinterest :
Wedsite :
Instagram :
Source :
Thanks For Watching Video. Please SUBSCRIBE