trio surfaced, Darren waited for the panga of researchers. He gently lifted the turtle over the gunwale and into the hands of the two eager scientists. Blow and Chevis identified the turtle as male (indicated by his long tail), tagged his flipper, measured his carapace, and collected samples. All of this information is cataloged in MarAlliance’s database, which documents turtle activity in Turneffe Atoll and other sites like it. The whole turtle meet scientist experience lasted only a few minutes.
Just as the little hawksbill was gently placed over the side of the panga and released, shouts for help dashed across the water. A few hundred feet away, Dan, MarAlliance’s Fisher and Field Research Coordinator, bobbed on the surface, desperately gripping the carapace of a massive 300lb Loggerhead. The team of scientists quickly reorganized and sped off to help him. Laughing and struggling, Dan and the rest of the turtle team hoisted the massive male out of the water and onto the boat for work up. Breathlessly, Dan made sure to note, “now that’s how it’s done.” He had definitely won biggest catch of the day. I had never seen a turtle quite so large. His neck was as thick around as a super sized ruby red grapefruit and the claws on his fore flippers resembled those of the big cats in Africa. Blow and Chevis collected data so efficiently that before I knew it I was watching the huge Loggerhead shrink into the Caribbean. And as if nothing unusual had just happened, the turtle snatchers launched out of the water and into the fleet of pangas, unphazed and a little hungry. While they went about their routines, digging up the day’s home made lunch and filling up my water bottle with seawater, I remained in total awe of the whole process. These men are practiced and stealthy turtle snatchers. They are just as thrilled to catch their targets, as they are to later watch them swim away. It’s a compelling collaboration.
The men that make up MarAlliance’s skilled team of local fishers are eager participants. They supplement their earnings from commercial fishing with paid positions as research field associates. In turn, they learn more about current scientific studies and educate their peers. The scientists benefit from the vast wealth of traditions and experiences the fishermen share, tapping into a deep history of natural resource use in Belize. Local fishers and researchers are able to exchange information, share resources, and work together to better understand Belize’s fisheries. They encourage a dialogue among stakeholders and teach each other new skills. By the end of the monitoring season, both Blow and Chevis were skilled turtle catchers too.
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