Central American Dome Expedition Team Arrives! - Mission Blue

January 22, 2014

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High seas ecosystems are intricately linked to those in the coastal regions. The Central American Dome Expedition mini documentary will highlight the need for more conservation policies in international waters and how they work alongside protection efforts on the coast.

Our focus is the largest sea turtle on earth, the leatherback.  These leviathans travel from Playa Grande in Costa Rica, out into the Central Pacific Dome region and continue their migratory route to South America. Ocean currents also transport leatherback hatchlings through the area.

Day 1:

Critically endangered, leatherbacks are priceless in the marine ecosystem. Egg harvesting and fisheries by-catch have drastically reduced their population during the past two decades.

Leatherback Hatchling going to sea(c) Kip F. EvansMBMarViva
Leatherback Hatchling going to sea(c) Kip F. EvansMBMarViva

We visited The Leatherback Trust’s team at Baulas National Park in Guanacaste to learn about conservation measures being worked on with local authorities.

TLT’s researchers and volunteers protect the turtle nests from potential harm on the beach. We were excited to witness a planned excavation, aimed at safeguarding the newborn hatchlings on their way from their nest to the open sea.

Expedition Blog: Alejandra Pacheco, Edited by Deb Castellana

Feature Photo: Kip Evans/Mission Blue/MarViva

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