Grant: 15-039C
Project Title: Konica CR Radiograph System Upgrade
Project Manager: Lydia Staggs
Organization: Gulf World Marine Institute (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $8,150.00
Completion Date: 2016-01-27
Summary: Gulf World Marine Institute, Inc. staff responds to live stranded sea turtles
along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida Panhandle. GWMI is proposing a grant project
under the Category of Conservation Grant Application to purchase software to upgrade our
existing digital radiograph software. Radiographs are essential in rehabilitation efforts in order
to properly assess disease states in turtles entering into rehabilitation. By awarding GWMI this
grant, operations that benefit both State and Federal sea turtle program goals would be enhanced.
Results: On May 21,2015 the Konica CR Image Pilot software was purchased for an upgrade. The system was installed and used to radiograph stranded turtles. Since purchasing the upgrade system, GWMI has radiographed 10 turtles. Several of these animals were found to half fishing hooks internally, which were removed. Other animals were found to have trauma or systemic disease.