The Barbados Sea Turtle Project is part of the regional WIDECAST (Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network) network. Thanks to seed funding from the GEF Small Grants Programme, the National Fish & Wildlife Fund, and most recently, a Pew Marine Conservation Fellowship, the BSTP now hosts a Regional Centre of Excellence for Sea Turtle Marking Technologies, the WIDECAST Marine Turtle Tagging Centre (MTTC).  

The Centre provides custom-manufactured flipper tags and applicators for monitoring projects using less than 200 tags per year (i.e. 100 turtles), standardized relational database software, and training in tagging techniques and data storage for Caribbean states. In order to receive tags, Projects must apply to the Centre on MTTC application forms, providing proof that an appropriate permit from the local authorities in their country has been obtained, and that they have received WIDECAST-approved training in tagging of sea turtles. Projects that receive tags must also agree to submit an annual report detailing the deployment of tags. Data on tag numbers used by Projects in the region and information on deployments are maintained in the MTTC regional database, which ensures data storage continuity and facilitates information-sharing when long distance tag returns occur.

For further information contact : Prof. Julia Horrocks