seaturtle.org : MTN : ARCHIVES : Sign In

The MTSG Burning Issues 3 (BI-3) Workshop was convened to revisit, revise, and expand the MTSG’s “Burning Issues” priority-setting process, which began at the MTSG Vision and Mission Retreat in December 2003, and continued with the Burning Issues 2 (BI-2) Workshop in August 2005. A group of some 21 MTSG members, hailing from several countries, and including both MTSG Co-Chairs and five Regional Vice Chairs, gathered at the Headquarters of Conservation International in Washington, DC for a period of three days. Through plenary discussions at the meeting and in preparatory discussions by the BI-3 Co-Chairs (A. Bolten, M. Chaloupka, and R. Mast), five main objectives were identified for the BI-3 meeting:

1. Review and validate the BI Mission and progress to date, address concerns voiced by MTSG members, and sketch-out a tentative multi-year work plan;

2. Review progress and procedure for Red List assessments and other types of risk assessments and priority-setting techniques;

3. Develop an internet survey tool (and a strategy, timeline and work plan for its use) that will allow the MTSG to regularly access the collective wisdom, knowledge and expert opinion of our far-flung membership;

4. Discuss ways to communicate BI Results broadly;

5. Create a list of “Top Un-Answered Questions/Mysteries” about sea turtle natural history, the understanding of which will better guide conservation and management efforts;

Red Listing and other Assessments

One of our most important mandates from the IUCN is the timely and accurate assessment of all sea turtle species, which is a time consuming, complex and difficult task. For the past 18 months, the MTSG’s Red Listing efforts have been spear-headed by Dr. Jeffrey Seminoff, who prior to accepting the post also authored the 2004 Red List Assessment for Chelonia mydas. Jeff made a very compelling presentation at BI-3, including a preliminary review of the results of the survey sent to MTSG members several weeks ago. His talk set the stage for a lengthy discussion, from which several important decisions derived concerning the future directions of Red List and other types of priority assessments within the MTSG.

The group concluded, as have other Specialist Groups before us, that managing Red Listing is a greater burden than a single volunteer can handle. As such, the group unanimously agreed upon the need to create an Assessments Steering Committee (ASC). Under the direction of the Co-Chairs, the ASC will assume responsibility for the timely completion of Red List Assessments, and will assure that these documents reflect the highest possible degree of accuracy and scientific rigor, as well as maximum involvement from the MTSG membership. Criteria for participation and composition of the ASC were discussed, and the Co-Chairs have begun the process of establishing this committee. We envision this body being staffed and fully functional prior to the end of 2006.

The ASC will steward a process that begins with the selection of qualified Assessors. These Assessors will prepare preliminary species Assessments based on the IUCN criteria, which the ASC will distribute for peer review by other leading experts. Necessary changes will then be made by the Assessors under the direction of the ASC before each assessment is posted on the MTSG website. Membership will be notified and provided a suitable comment period during which to offer public and/or private opinions, question the Assessors, and hopefully shed light on new data that may be pertinent. Red List species assessments are perhaps the most publicly valuable contribution that the MTSG can make to the conservation of sea turtles, and they must serve as examples of our group’s professionalism and commitment.

The ASC will also look into other aspects of priority setting for sea turtle research and conservation, beyond global-scale Red Listing. As such, it was agreed that the MTSG, with guidance from the new ASC, would commit in earnest to undertaking regional sea turtle status assessments in each of the world’s four major ocean basins for sea turtles (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Mediterranean). These exercises will be scheduled with the assistance of the Regional Vice-Chairs, and will also serve as fora for team-building and technical training among our members.

Moreover, it was agreed that the ASC would draft an overview of what some of the most critical assessment and priority setting issues are for sea turtles, including a critical look at why the IUCN Red List Criteria are not perfectly suited to globally ranging, long-lived, slow reproducing creatures, and how complementary assessment methodologies, such as regional assessments, can help to round-out our understanding of sea turtle status. Drs. Kartik Shanker and Jeff Seminoff volunteered to take a lead in producing this overview.

MTSG Member Surveys

The group also discussed the importance of better understanding the nature of our membership and enhancing networking and communications among our some 300 far-flung members worldwide. Discussions centered on the development of an internet survey tool to engage the membership, harness the collective knowledge of the group to identify priorities, and make the BI meetings and outputs more transparent. The group decided that surveys should be performed a few times a year and take no longer than 10-15 minutes to complete. Surveys should be conducted in English, French, and Spanish. The network of Regional Vice-Chairs will be asked to help ensure participation from members in their region. Each survey will be focused around a general theme, and results will be reported to the respondents and to the entire MTSG as soon as possible after completion. The results of each survey will be used by the MTSG to set priorities, act as an early warning mechanism for crises, and improve the MTSG’s ability to achieve its mission. Marketing survey expert, Peter Schireson (of Schireson Associates, www.schireson.com), has agreed to work with the group to implement the survey. During a group teleconference with Mr. Schireson, the group asked a number of questions including, principally: will an internet survey be an effective tool for engaging members?; how can we encourage participation in the survey?; what is the process for constructing the survey?; and, what does Mr. Schireson need from the group in order to construct the surveys?

Following the discussion with Peter Schireson, the group began to develop questions for each survey based on Mr. Schireson’s guidance. Throughout the afternoon of Day 2 and morning of Day 3, the group drafted the first two surveys to be reviewed by Mr. Schireson, adjusted, tested, translated, and ultimately sent to the MTSG membership. The BI Working Group set a goal to complete both surveys and have results tabulated and analyzed by the MTSG Annual General Meeting at the 27th Annual Sea Turtle Symposium in Myrtle Beach, SC, USA in February of 2007.

The Major Unanswered Questions of Sea Turtle Natural History

Expanding on the priority-setting efforts of the first two Burning Issues efforts, one of the objectives of BI-3 was to develop a list of “the major unanswered questions about sea turtle natural history, the knowledge of which will help us to better conserve these animals and their habitats.” The purpose of this list is to highlight these important questions, and to guide the MTSG membership, students, researchers, conservationists, and donors towards a focus on the highest priority issues in sea turtle conservation. While not exhaustive, the list can be used for many purposes, including public outreach and awareness, and will aid the MTSG in fulfilling our mission.

Prior to the meeting, a survey was sent via email to the entire MTSG membership in English, Spanish and French in order to elicit feedback on what are the most important unanswered questions relating to sea turtle natural history. At the BI-3 meeting, the MTSG member survey responses were (anonymously) compiled and grouped into thematic categories, reviewed for redundancy, and reexamined to create a consolidated list of “Key Unsolved Mysteries.” These seven Key Unsolved Mysteries are, in no particular order, as follows:

Where do sea turtles spend their first years of life?

What are the ecological roles of sea turtles, and how many do we need to fulfill those roles?

What proportion of male sea turtles is necessary to maintain a healthy population?

How do sea turtles sense their environment?

How do sea turtles navigate?

How will global warming affect sea turtles?

What causes fibropapillomas?