leatherback

Leatherback Saved by Fisher-Researcher Collaboration in Sinaloa

Leatherback Saved by Fisher-Researcher Collaboration in Sinaloa

When fishermen and researchers collaborate, they create opportunities to amplify efforts for the research and conservation of sea turtles. This past spring, Upwell participated in these efforts by providing a satellite tag for Liam Neythan, a leatherback sea turtle that was saved in Sinaloa, Mexico. Our collaborators, the fishers Edmundo Rafael Garcías Burgos and Mariano García Olivas, as well as Dr. Alan Zavala Norzagaray and the CIIDIR IPN Unidad Sinaloa are the key collaborators and heroes in this story.

Tortuga laúd salvada a través de la colaboración entre pescadores e investigadores en Sinaloa

Tortuga laúd salvada a través de la colaboración entre pescadores e investigadores en Sinaloa

Cuando pescadores e investigadores colaboran se crean oportunidades para unir y amplificar esfuerzos orientados a la investigación y conservación de las tortugas marinas. Durante la primavera pasada, Upwell participó en estos esfuerzos proporcionando una etiqueta satelital para Liam Neythan, una tortuga laúd que fue salvada en Sinaloa, México. Nuestros colaboradores, los pescadores Edmundo Rafael Garcías Burgos y Mariano García Olivas, así como el Dr. Alan Zavala Norzagaray y el CIIDIR IPN Unidad Sinaloa fueron los protagonistas de esta historia.

Press Release: Novel Research Takes Marine Conservation Tools to a New Dimension

Press Release: Novel Research Takes Marine Conservation Tools to a New Dimension

The new publication "Incorporating multidimensional behavior into a risk management tool for a critically endangered and migratory species," takes a look at how data on leatherback diving behavior can be used to improve the South Pacific TurtleWatch tool aimed at reducing bycatch.

Using Machine Learning to Understand Turtles’ Lives at Sea

Using Machine Learning to Understand Turtles’ Lives at Sea

What does a researcher studying animal behavior do when the animal they are studying takes off into the middle of the Pacific ocean? In this post, Upwell Researcher Dr. Nicole Barbour breaks down how machine learning can be used to help researchers interpret data from tagged leatherbacks to understand their behavior at sea. Featured image by Juergen Freund.

Notes From The Field: Monitoring Florida’s Leatherbacks

Notes From The Field: Monitoring Florida’s Leatherbacks

At the beginning of June, Upwell Executive Director George Shillinger traveled to Juno and Jupiter beaches in Florida to catch the end of the leatherback nesting season monitoring conducted at Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) and participate in ongoing collaborative research projects. Read more about those projects and meet some of the leatherbacks that were monitored this season!

More Nausea and Curiosity: A research assistant monitoring West Pacific leatherbacks in the California Current

More Nausea and Curiosity: A research assistant monitoring West Pacific leatherbacks in the California Current

Emeline McMann-Chapman is an Upwell Research Assistant. She assists with collection and analysis of stranding data on cold-stunned sea turtles on the Pacific coast. She recently had the opportunity to assist Upwell and NOAA’s leatherback tagging team in Monterey Bay.

Meeting your Heroes in a Virtual World

Meeting your Heroes in a Virtual World

Princeton student Max Gotts recently attended the virtual 40th Annual International Sea Turtle Symposium (ISTS) for the first time to present his research on nearshore mortality’s role in leatherback hatchling evolution. In 2018, Max worked with Upwell Researcher Nicki Barbour in Costa Rica tracking leatherback hatchlings. Find out more about his research and experience at ISTS.

Bon Voyage, Bumpy!

Bon Voyage, Bumpy!

In October of 2021, Upwell and our partners from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tagged one of the largest leatherbacks ever encountered in the California Current foraging zone weighing in at 1,419 pounds! This massive male leatherback was dubbed “Bumpy” because of the distinctive bumps on the rear of his carapace, which were likely caused by a prior ship strike. Find out more about where Bumpy has traveled.

PRESS RELEASE - Massive leatherback sea turtle satellite tagged in California waters

PRESS RELEASE - Massive leatherback sea turtle satellite tagged in California waters

Upwell and NOAA Fisheries are monitoring and protecting California’s leatherbacks with satellite technology. Researchers in October captured a massive Pacific leatherback turtle off California that they had caught and released once before in 2016.

Local Gifts Can Help Turtles This Holiday Season

Local Gifts Can Help Turtles This Holiday Season

We all know buying local reduces carbon emissions and can help combat climate change, but did you know it can also help reduce threats to sea turtles? International shipping often relies on the use of massive cargo ships to transport goods across our oceans. Sea turtle migration paths can intersect with vessel traffic and nearshore shipping lanes can overlap with important foraging habitats.