Grant: 22-012C
Project Title: Supplies for Stranding Response and Salvage on Sanibel and Captiva
Project Manager: Jack Brzoza
Organization: Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $5,102.00
Completion Date:
Summary: Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) staff holds the permit for nest monitoring, research, and stranding response along Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Detailed data on strandings (species, location, morphometrics, external/internal evaluations) have been collected since the marine turtle permit was transferred to SCCF in 1992. Thus, SCCF has been contributing to both the long-term state and federal Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN) databases for 30 years. In addition to routine documenting for each stranding (external evaluation, photographing, scanning for tags, measuring the carapace), SCCF staff are permitted to perform necropsies. In some instances, SCCF is also responsible for the removal of deceased turtles from the beach not marked for salvage. This requires physically moving the turtle to an appropriate burial site. Each year, the majority of deceased strandings are loggerheads and most of those tend to be in the sub-adult or adult size class. These turtles are very large and cumbersome and require several staff members to safely move. The current equipment to transport live and dead strandings is very old and rapidly approaching the end of its life span, and its inefficiency even has a dangerous potential to result in injuries to stranding responders and prolong transport in more urgent live stranding situations. SCCF is requesting a stranding response package that includes transport materials (hand truck, sea turtle sling) and salvage/necropsy materials (chest freezer, operating table). Funds to purchase equipment will greatly increase the efficiency and safety of stranding response and broaden the scope of data which will be shared with collaborators and the STSSN.
Results: