Georgia Loggerhead Tracking Project 2004

A project of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in conjunction with the partners and sponsors detailed below.

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Click on an animal's name for maps and more information.

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to document inter-nesting habitat use, migratory pathways, and post-nesting movements of Georgia?s nesting loggerhead turtles using satellite telemetry. Loggerhead turtle movements will be compared with the distributions of commercial fishing and dredging activity and results will be used to make management recommendations to protect adult loggerhead sea turtles and their habitats. A total of twelve satellite transmitters will be deployed from Jekyll (7) and Cumberland Islands (5).

Our tracking project also provides a unique educational opportunity for students to learn more about Georgia?s loggerhead turtles and the coastal marine ecosystems. During the spring of 2004, Sea Island, Georgia, will be the host of the historic G-8 Conference, where world leaders will meet to discuss important global economic issues. School kids from grades K-5 were given the opportunity to submit names for eight of the turtles. Over 1,200 Georgia students in kindergarten through fifth grade took part in the sea turtle naming contest. Turtles were named in honor of the main eight countries participating in the G-8 Conference including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Russia, France, Italy, Germany and Canada. The winning children were then invited to take part in a special ceremony with Governor Sonny Perdue at the State Capitol. Click on each individual turtle to get more information on the winning students. There are wonderful stories behind the children and each name that was chosen.

Our project will study the movements of Georgia?s adult loggerhead sea turtles during their nesting season (May-August), document their migratory movements and their foraging habitats (home range) and then we will make a comparison with known fishing activity in the area.

Project Partners

This project is a collaboration between the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the University of Georgia-school of Forest Resources, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Navy- Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, The Environmental Resources Network (T.E.R.N.), National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Cumberland Island National Seashore, Jekyll Island Sea Turtle Project, and The Wildlife Conservation Society.

Project Sponsors

This project was funded by a grants from the U.S. Navy-Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

• The presentation of data here does not constitute publication. All data remain copyright of the project partners. Maps or data on this website may not be used or referenced without explicit written consent.
• For more information please visit the project website.
• If you have questions or would like to request the use of maps or data for this project please contact mark_dodd@dnr.state.ga.us.

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