Journal entry 6

Compare the turtle monitoring project and whale shark project in terms of types of questions addressed, use of volunteers, organizational structure, etc. (whatever is relevant).

During my time with MCSS I was able to get involved with other projects beyond the whale shark internship I applied for. This was partly due to the fact that the whale shark season in the Seychelles peaked early and so the latter end of the internship had significantly less sharks. Ultimately that meant I had more free time to assist MCSS with their other projects. October to January is the peak nesting season for Hawksbill sea turtles, however Green turtles nest on the shores of the Seychelles year round. A number of high activity level beaches are monitored three times a week during this three month period. There is not an established turtle internship in the same the way the whale shark internship exists, but turtle monitoring this year was assisted by Maritime work attachment students, high school students from the International School, and a few of us willing whale shark interns. There were two full weeks of whale shark training before we got in the water with them, but when I did the turtle monitoring I was given a quick briefing on turtle procedures on the beach right before we went out.

One of the goals for the turtle monitoring project is to assess the beaches with the most turtles and at the highest risk (of poaching, inadequate foraging sites, costal development, etc.) so a protected areas project can be implemented. If the MCSS is able to choose and defend which beaches should be protected then they can get grant money to fund their protected areas project. The whale shark program does not carry out research specifically to establish protected areas for whale sharks. Right now MCSS is trying to understand 1. when the sharks come, 2. where they come from, 3. where they go when they leave, and 4. if they return to the Seychelles. The whale shark was the flagship species that inspired Dr. Rowat to create MCSS and is still his pride and joy. The turtle monitoring project is only beginning to flesh itself out as another full-scale seasonal responsibility the MCSS will tackle. On top of sea turtle monitoring, MCSS routinely studies the endangered terrapins located more inland on the island of Mahe.