Honu.Org - Help Save Pacific Sea Turtles!

Donate $10 for Turtles to reach our $2010 goal!

2009-12-21T17:48:00.000-08:00

Aloha!

We are wrapping up the year and asking you to please help us make 2010 a success. Please click the link below and donate $10 or more to Honu.Org by January 20, 2010.

Please make our $10 for Turtles in 2010 campaign a success by sharing this link with your friends and family. We need your help to raise $2010 that will support expansion of our sea turtle education and advocacy efforts.

Please help us if you can spare $10 for turtles!

Mahalo nui loa!

Do your part for the oceans and sea turtles this week!

2009-09-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

In June, President Obama declared that June be National Oceans Month and his administration laid out a plan for moving forward to protect our ocean resources. This was great news amidst all our World Oceans Day activities in June. Now September has rolled around and this month offers some great opportunities to get involved in shaping the future of our oceans.

On September 17, 2009, from 2:30pm until 6pm, the Ocean Policy Task Force Public Meeting will take place in San Franisco at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco at Embarcadero Center, Ballroom A, 5 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA 94111 (near BART and MUNI Embarcadero Station). This is the second public meeting to accept public input on the issues set out in President Obama's Memorandum. You have an unprecedented opportunity to play a roll in setting the priorities for this administration and our marine resources.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/Press_Releases/September_1_2009/

If you are unable to attend the September 17th meeting, you can still submit your comments to the Whitehouse by visiting: http://www.whitehouse.gov/oceans Please be a voice to create and maintain healthy oceans by participating in the public process about the future of our oceans.

Several groups are planning a pre-meeting party and rally to prepare those of you attending the September 17th meeting. On September 16, please join ocean advocates at Baobab Village in San Francisco from 5:30pm until 9pm. Find out more details from the invite: http://www.oceanchampions.org/pdfs/OceanPartyInvite9_16_09FINAL.pdf

You can also get involved with the oceans this week by attending International Coastal Cleanup Day in your neighborhood. OceanHealth.Org will be a hosting a site at the Judah Street entrance to Ocean Beach in San Francisco from 9am until 12pm on Saturday, September 19th. If you're on Facebook, please sign up on our invitation (and while you are at it please become a fan of OceanHealth.Org on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/oceanhealth and Honu.Org http://www.facebook.com/honu.org if you have not already). You can find out more details about our beach cleanup location by clicking this link: http://www.facebook.com/oceanhealth#/event.php?eid=55792934233

We hope that you can join us for all these great events! Thank you for your efforts to improve ocean health.

World Oceans Day 2009 events in the San Francisco Bay Area

2009-05-31T21:28:00.000-07:00

Here is an updated listed of all the OceanHealth.Org co-sponsored events for World Oceans Day 2009 in the San Francisco Bay Area.

World Oceans Day 2009 Events:
http://www.oceandaysf.org

June 7, World Oceans Day Beach Cleanup
Sunday, 10a-12p
Judah Street Entrance to Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA 94122

Please RSVP http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=55915392141 or by email to eli@oceanhealth.org. This is a free event!

We expect a big turnout this year and are excited for you to join us. Please join the hundreds of Bay Area residents that are expected to turn out to rid Ocean Beach of marine debris, which diminishes our beach experience and poses a threat to wildlife and ocean ecosystems. What better way to celebrate the oceans that give us so much than by helping make it cleaner?

9:30am-10:00am Registration and Orientation
10:00am-12:00pm Beach Cleanup
12:00pm Wrap up and thank you!

Please join us at the Judah Street entrance to Ocean Beach in San Francisco. You can reach the location by the MUNI N Judah line or check 511.org for public transportation from your area. Biking is highly recommended. Carpooling is requested of those who must drive.

Gloves and bags are provided for the event, but you are welcome to bring your own work gloves or reusable bag for picking up marine debris along Ocean Beach.

Participants should dress in clothing appropriate for variable weather conditions at Ocean Beach. Weather can differ even from other locations in San Francisco so dressing in layers and checking the current weather conditions is important. Rain gear could be brought as a precaution.

Strong rain or severe weather cancels, but please call 415-342-7497 to confirm if you have any questions on June 7.

View Larger Map

June 8th, World Oceans Day Film Festival
Monday, 6:30pm-9pm
Montara Lighthouse, 16th Street and Cabrillo Highway, Montara, CA

Please RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=172640435149 or by email to eli@oceanhealth.org. Please be sure to RSVP because there is a 50 person maximum for attending this event.

Please join OceanHealth.Org with the Surfrider Foundation San Mateo County Chapter for the World Oceans Day Film Festival. To celebrate, we'll be screening short ocean films. We hope that you'll join us in this great location to share our love of the oceans and to view a variety of films showing perspectives on the ocean.

Event is free if you RSVP, but $8 donation for World Oceans Day is appreciated and will help support local ocean nonprofits.

6:30-7pm Reception
7-8:30pm Films
8:30-9pm Discussion

Short films include:
"End of the Line"
"Silent Snow"
"Keeping Coast"
"Favela Surf Dreams"
"Papa Tortuga"
"Revolution of the Crabs"

View Larger Map

If you can, please take public transportation or carpool because there is limited parking.

Public transportation: From The Daly City BART station take the Samtrans 110 to the Linda Mar park and ride. Transfer to the Samtrans 294 and let the driver know you want to be dropped at the Pt. Montara Lighthouse stop.

June 10, World Oceans Day Film Festival
Wednesday, 6p doors open, 7p Films
Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St., San Francisco, CA (Near Mission Street and 16th Street BART)

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=83358966876
Buy tickets online at http://www.victoriatheatre.org or at the door on June 10th. Your $10 ticket gets you admission for any or all of the films!

6pm: Doors Open and reception with local ocean nonprofits.
.
7pm: Short ocean films, including:
"Silent Snow"
"Favela Surf Dreams"
"Papa Tortuga"
"Revolution of the Crabs"
"Sand Dancer"
"Keeping Coast"

8:30pm: Discussion and Intermission

9pm: Feature Films:
"End of the Line" (23 minutes)
"A Sea Change: Imagine a World without Fish" (60 minutes)
"Tapped" Trailer (6 minutes)

View Larger Map

World Oceans Day Film Festival and Beach Cleanup 2009

2009-05-25T18:03:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update and summary of our June events for World Oceans Day celebrations in the Bay Area. We are really excited and hope that you will join us at one or all of the events.

World Oceans Day 2009 Events:
http://www.oceandaysf.org

June 7, Sunday, 10a-12p
World Oceans Day Beach Cleanup
Judah Street Entrance to Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA
RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=55915392141

June 8, Monday, 6:30p-9p
World Oceans Day Film Festival
Montara Lighthouse, Montara, CA
RSVP required: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=172640435149
or email eli@oceanhealth.org

June 10, Wednesday, 6p doors open, 7p Films
World Oceans Day Film Festival
Victoria Theatre, 16th St. & Mission St., San Francisco, CA
RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=83358966876
Buy tickets: http://www.victoriatheatre.org

Help Our Ten for Turtles Campaign - Donate $10 Through Twitter by May 23

2009-05-18T17:00:00.000-07:00

Aloha to all our supporters!

Please join the Honu.Org 'Ohana and help us continue to support sea turtle conservation by participating in our Ten for Turtles campaign.

Between now and May 23 World Turtle Day, please go to http://honu.org and click on the link at the top. If you are a Twitter user, simply click on the link with your Twitter ID, then click through to make a donation of $10 or any amount that you can afford. It is a safe and secure way to help our work and support our cause. Will you become a member of the Honu 'Ohana (sea turtle family)?

If you are not already following us on Twitter, please find us at http://www.twitter.com/honu and read our updates of sea turtle news and actions that you can take.

Not on Twitter? You can also make donations through Paypal.Mahalo nui loa! Thank you very much! We could not do our work without your support.

Oppose increased Hawaii swordfish longline fishing that endangers sea turtles by 5/18

2009-05-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

If you have not already, please submit your opposition online to increased Hawaii swordfish longline fishing that harms sea turtles by May 18 by clicking: http://ow.ly/58tg

Federal regulations are proposed that would increase the longline fishery for swordfish in Hawai'i. This unnecessary increasing in catching toxic swordfish will further threaten endangered leatherback sea turtles,whose Pacific populations collapsed to less than 10 percent during the 1980s and 1990s, and loggerhead sea turtles.

Please tell the federal government that even a few injured or killed leatherbacks and loggerhead sea turtles is too many when these populations are so endangered. The current plan could triple the number of deaths if it is not stopped and further risk sea turtle extinction in the Pacific.

Swordfish is known to contain high levels methylmercury (a neurotoxin that should be avoided) and other contaminants because they bioaccumulate ocean toxins brought up the food chain. Some restaurants will not even serve swordfish anymore because of tumors in the tissue and concerns about its health effects. The question is why risk harming critically endangered sea turtles to put poison on your plate?

Please act by May 18 with your comments to tell the federal government to that we cannot risk sea turtles for increased swordfish catches. Swordfish, along with many top ocean predators, have also declined dramatically and should be protected from overfishing, too.

Thank you for your support of sustainable oceans!

Please also join us in our 10 for Turtles Campaign! In honor of World Turtle Day on May 23, we are asking Twitter users to donate $10 or any amount to help Honu.Org in our advocacy efforts.

Simply go to http://www.honu.org, then click on the link at the top for a quick and secure donation. Please follow us on Twitter while you are at it: http://twitter.com/honu to get our updates.

Thank you again! Mahalo!

Show your love for sea turtles on Valentine's Day

2009-02-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

Love sea turtles? Pledge to use your reusable shopping bag on Valentine's Day http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=42931894006

Check out what plastic pollution is doing to your seafood on this report by ABC Good Morning America: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/JustOneThing/story?id=6797599

In addition to bringing pollution to your plate, ocean plastics harm sea turtles, birds, and other wildlife that depend on our oceans.

Show your love for that special someone in your life and the ocean on this Valentine's Day.

Love the Ocean, Use Less Plastic:

1. Bring your reusable bag when you go shopping and/or say "no" when offered a plastic bag.

2. Pick a non-plastic gift to show your love. Really, is plastic the way to say, "I love you"?

3. How about wrapping your gift in a reusable shopping bag?

4. If you live near the ocean, take the time to visit and have a romantic walk on the beach, go surfing, go wildlife watching, or just to watch the sun set. Maybe even take a couple of minutes to pick up some marine debris while you're there or to even join a beach cleanup that weekend (check your local Surfrider for info: www.surfrider.org).

5. If you go out to dinner, remember to order only sustainable seafood (if you order it at all) and bring your own container for leftovers.

6. Consider donating on behalf of your love to the ocean charity of your choice.

7. Share this event with your friends all over the world to spread the word.

The ocean thanks you and loves you back. ;-)

Save Sea Turtles by Saying, "No," to Plastic Bags on December 18

2008-12-15T14:13:00.000-08:00

December 18 “Day without a Bag” Asks Shoppers to Give to the Environment
Volunteers Give Reusable Bags and Get Shoppers to Say No to Plastic Bags

For Immediate Release

Contact: Eli Saddler, Director of OceanHealth.Org, 415-342-7497, eli@oceanhealth.org
Wes Womack, President of San Francisco Surfrider , 510-717-7204, wesw@sfsurfrider.org

San Francisco, CA, December 18, 2008 – On Thursday, December 18, the San Francisco Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and OceanHealth.Org will be asking Christmas shoppers to participate in “A Day without a Bag.” “A Day without a Bag” is becoming a holiday tradition as environmental groups ask shoppers to say “no” when offered plastic bags and to remember to bring their own bags when shopping. To mark “A Day without a Bag,” volunteers will be handing out hundreds of reusable shopping bags to shoppers from noon until about 2 PM on Thursday, December 18, at Union Square in San Francisco. Volunteers will be distributing reusable bags donated by Surfrider and Whole Foods Markets as an alternative to single-use plastic bags.

“Many people remember reusable bags for grocery shopping, but this day is a reminder to holiday shoppers to bring bags when going to any store,” said Eli Saddler, Director of OceanHealth.Org and Surfrider volunteer. “Holiday shoppers can give back to the environment by saying, ‘no,’ when offered single-use plastic bags.”

Although San Francisco passed a plastic bag ban for grocery stores, more still needs to be done to educate consumers about reducing their consumption of single-use plastic bags. Worldwide, 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed annually, which means that a million plastic bags are being used each minute. Annually, a million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die globally due to ingestion of or entanglement in plastics.

“Bags and other plastic items clog our beaches with pollution and harm wildlife,” said chapter president, Wes Womack. “It is great that we live in a city that bans plastic bags on some level, but we can all do more to cut down on single-use plastic items to reduce pollution on our beaches and in our ocean.”

Surfrider will be holding its next monthly beach cleanup at Stairwell 17 on Ocean Beach this coming Sunday, December 21, from 10 AM until 12 PM. Volunteers can give back to the oceans by helping remove man-made debris from the beaches, some of which is currently be gathered for art projects. For more information on this and other monthly beach cleanups, people can visit Surfrider’s website (http://www.sfsurfrider.org/).

Surfrider and OceanHealth.Org are promoting “December 18 – A Day without a Bag” online, also (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=36865929853). In an effort to reach as many people as possible from around the world, the organizations hope that people will get the word and learn more about eliminating plastic bags and other items.

People can learn more about the event and its history at Heal the Bay's website (http://www.healthebay.org/nobagday/)

# # #

About the San Francisco Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation: SF Surfrider is a volunteer organization of surfers and ocean enthusiasts that promotes environmental quality of our beaches and oceans. The San Francisco Chapter is one of many local chapters of the international nonprofit organization, the Surfrider Foundation, based in San Clemente, CA. Surfrider Foundation’s San Francisco Chapter holds bi-monthly beach cleanups at Ocean Beach; cleanup times can be found on their website: http://www.sfsurfrider.org/

About OceanHealth.Org: OceanHealth.Org is a nonprofit organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area, which works to promote ocean conservation and public health protection through education, advocacy, and science. http://www.oceanhealth.org

Please sign the Surfrider petition to protect our coasts and wildlife from offshore oil drilling

2008-12-08T13:00:00.000-08:00

Currently on Facebook, the Causes application has a petition from the Surfrider Foundation that asks President-Elect Obama and the new Congress to act to protect our coastlines from risky oil drilling schemes.

Please visit Honu.Org on our Causes page and sign the petition: http://www.causes.com/honu

While you're on Facebook, please also join Honu.Org's and OceanHealth.Org's other pages:

Honu.Org's Fan Page

Honu.Org's Group Page

OceanHealth.Org's Fan Page

OceanHealth.Org's Group Page

Join Coastal Cleanup Day at Your Local Beach!

2008-09-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

International Coastal Cleanup Day

Find a beach near you and give back to the ocean!


Date:	Saturday, September 20, 2008
Time:	9:00am - 12:00pm
Location:	Ocean Beach
Street:	Taraval St. and the Great Highway
City/Town:	San Francisco, CA
	View Map Google MapQuest Microsoft Yahoo

Sept. 20th will be International Coastal Cleanup Day around the world. If you're here in the Bay Area, please join me at the Taraval St. entrance to Ocean Beach (along the Great Highway).

If you're not in the Bay Area, please find a beach near you and do your part for cleaner oceans. Sea turtles and other wildlife are killed and injured by marine debris each year so you can help save sea turtles by removing potentially harmful trash.

Don't live near a beach? Why not do your part that day to avoid purchasing any plastic goods - especially plastic bags - and do your part to reduce waste.

San Francisco Celebrates June 8 World Ocean Day at Ocean Beach

2008-06-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

Mayor Declares June 8 as World Ocean Day in San Francisco

Volunteers Celebrate with Beach Cleanup at Ocean Beach

For Immediate Release

Contact: Eli Saddler, Director of OceanHealth.Org, cell 415-342-7497, eli@oceanhealth.org

What: June 8 is World Ocean Day and hundreds of volunteers will be heading to Ocean Beach to clean the beach in celebration of our oceans.

Who: OceanHealth.Org (http://www.oceanhealth.org) and the San Francisco Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation (http://www.sfsurfrider.org).

When: Sunday, June 8, 2008, 10AM to 12PM Ocean Beach cleanup.

Where: Santiago St. and Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94116

Why: Mayor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation declaring June 8^th as “World Ocean Day” in San Francisco. This is the second annual event of OceanHealth.Org and Surfrider in San Francisco (http://www.oceandaysf.org).

Our world ocean covers approximately 71 percent of the Earth’s surface, contains 97 percent of the Earth’s water, and represents 95 percent of the livable space on our planet, but is facing an incredible crisis that needs attention. Oil spills, plastic marine debris, overfishing, and global climate change are culminating in increasing problems for our oceans. In 2048, some scientists predict that important commercial fisheries will begin to collapse. The public is encouraged to learn more and take action for the oceans.

In 2007, the importance of our ocean was highlighted when thousands of volunteers responded to the Cosco Busan oil spill. In that spirit, volunteers will be on the beaches and removing trash that kills wildlife and is contributing to Texas-sized island of marine debris in the Pacific Ocean.

"World Ocean Day" was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit of the United Nations in Rio de Janeiro as an annual opportunity to celebrate our oceans, their importance to humanity, and the need for marine conservation.

Five Actions for the Oceans:

1. Learn more about our world ocean crisis.

2. Reduce or eliminate your use of plastic, especially plastic bags.

3. Reduce or eliminate your consumption of harmful seafood, including tuna, swordfish, shark, and shrimp. You’ll help the oceans and your health.

4. Reduce your greenhouse gases: Drive less and using bikes, buses, or BART more. Replace light bulbs and appliances with energy efficient ones.

5. Show your appreciation for the ocean by keeping it clean and visiting often.

###

World Ocean Day June 8 San Francisco Beach Cleanup

2008-06-02T15:33:00.000-07:00

World Ocean Day, June 8!

Please join us to celebrate World Ocean Day with OceanHealth.Org and the San Francisco Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation this Sunday. We will be meeting at the Santiago St. and Great Highway entrance to Ocean Beach for a clean up from 10 AM – 12 PM.

For more information, please visit www.oceandaysf.org or email Eli Saddler, eli@oceanhealth.org.

To learn more about World Ocean Day, please visit www.worldoceanday.org.

To learn more about San Francisco Surfrider, please visit www.sfsurfrider.org.

LOCATION:

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=Great+Hwy+%26+Santiago+St,+San+Francisco,+CA+94116,+USA&ll=37.744996,-122.507215&spn=0.007652,0.020084&z=16&iwloc=addr

Lights Out for Sea Turtles, Saturday, March 29, 8 to 9 pm

2008-03-28T17:44:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Earth Hour and do something about climate change and global warming that is harming our ocean ecoystems and the sea turtles that live there.

Learn more at www.earthhour.org

Saving energy means slowing climate change and helping our oceans be healthy for all living creatures!

I'm sure you can find something to do with your hour in the dark...

Please donate $10 to www.seaturtle.org by January 31!

2008-01-24T14:15:00.000-08:00

Hola from the International Sea Turtle Symposium in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico!

Please visit the great free website - www.seaturtle.org - and, if you can, help by donating $10 before January 31. SeaTurtle.Org is competing for a $50,000 prize to keep up its great work. You can help move them ahead in the competition if you donate today.

While you're there, check out all the great sea turtle resources available on SeaTurtle.Org.

Muchas gracias!

Grupo Tortguero and International Sea Turtle Symposium in Baja this month

2008-01-07T18:05:00.000-08:00

Once again, I am heading down to Loreto in Baja California Sur, Mexico, for the annual Grupo Tortuguero meeting from January 19-20, 2008. I will be participating at the conference through the great people at ProPeninsula, which is based in San Diego and does amazing work in Baja for sea turtles and other community-based conservation efforts (Consider supporting them with a sea turtle adoption - it's a fun gift).

Following the 10th annual meeting of Grupo Tortuguero, I'll be attending the 28th International Sea Turtle Society Symposium held January 21-26 of 2008.

World Ocean Day Events in San Francisco and Marin

2007-06-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

Please help spread the word:
http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/eli@oceanhealth.org/oceandaysf

Invite your friends to this free event!

Friday, 08 June 2007
The Gallery Lounge
510 Brannan Street
San Francisco, California 94107
(415) 227-0449
www.thegallerylounge.net

8:00pm - 11:00pm:
Preview Ocean related films and meet several leaders in the Ocean Conservation community including filmmakers, marine biologists, and other notable guests of honor at the Gallery Lounge, a cocktail lounge and art gallery located in the SOMA district near downtown San Francisco at Brannan and 4th Streets (across from the Bank of America).

Saturday, 09 June 2007
The Lark Theater
549 Magnolia Avenue
Larkspur, California 94939
(415) 924-5111
www.larktheater.net

12:00pm - 4:00pm:
Join us for the screenings of several Ocean related films, including Sharks: Stewards of the Reef, and other short films like Thank You Ocean. You'll have an opportunity to meet some of the filmmakers in attendance, and learn more about how you can help.

The Lark is a non-profit historical single screen theater built in 1936, and shows first run and independent films.

These events are brought to you by COARE, Oceanhealth.org, Ocean Revolution, Sharks: Stewards of the Reef, San Francisco Surfrider Foundation, The Marine Mammal Center, The Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary

To learn more about World Ocean Day, or to find events in other areas, please visit www.worldoceanday.org

May 18, Endangered Species Day

2007-05-18T08:32:00.001-07:00

Today is Endangered Species Day and a great time to remember the endangered sea turtles of the world, especially the leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles.

Too busy to learn more or too broke to donate to help? Well, this weekend, give up shrimp, tuna, swordfish, and shark because fishing for those seafood options leads to many turtle deaths each year. So how about giving them up if only for the weekend?

Urgent: Ask Costa Rica to Protect the Leatherback Turtle National Marine Park

2007-04-14T15:53:00.000-07:00

http://redtortugasmarinascr.org/_mgxroot/page_10731.html

Before Thursday, April 19, please go to the website above and send your e-mail asking Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sánchez to protect nesting sea turtles.

The Leatherback Turtle National Marine Park in Costa Rica is threatened by tourism development and needs protection so that the last foothold of the leatherback nesting beaches can be preserved to help the critically endangered sea turtles.

Please learn more and respond today. You can help save sea turtles, too!
http://redtortugasmarinascr.org/_mgxroot/page_10731.html

Watch "Voyage of the Lonely Turtle" on PBS, Apr. 15

2007-04-13T17:53:00.000-07:00

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/

From April 15, PBS stations across the nation will start broadcasting a new documentary about the amazing journey of the loggerhead sea turtles that is titled, "VOYAGE OF THE LONELY TURTLE." Check you local station for times and other dates. Be sure to check out this great story about sea turtles. Lots of interesting things on the PBS website, including downloads and games.

"A solitary loggerhead turtle in the middle of a vast ocean may not sound like an adventure film, but stick with her. Along her 9000-mile voyage to nest, our loggerhead tour guide in VOYAGE OF THE LONELY TURTLE encounters hammerhead sharks, deep ocean tempests, and man-made death traps in the form of fishing nets and hooks. Her body of well-suited armor and specialized adaptations for deep-ocean dwelling will help the sea turtle evade many of the ocean's menaces. But this is just one set of challenges to overcome. Here is another: she must find her way across the Pacific, from Mexico to a small stretch of beach in Japan, a precise location that she has been to just once before, as a two-inch hatchling, decades ago.

Researchers have learned a great deal about how this curious creature could make such a phenomenal voyage. Some of the most valuable information was gained from a single voyage. Scientist Wallace J. Nichols released the captive loggerhead turtle, Adelita, into the Pacific a decade ago. Over the course of a year, Adelita did what no sea turtle had ever done before, she took researchers and turtle enthusiasts along on her journey, to her beach, to nest. Since then, researchers have shed much light on how sea turtles like loggerheads navigate the astounding trip. One of the more fascinating aspects of this navigation is the turtle's use of magnetic mapping to chart its course.

NATURE'S VOYAGE OF THE LONELY TURTLE premieres Sunday, April 15th at 8 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check your local listings)"

The Great Turtle Race on the Colbert Report

2007-04-12T14:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/?lnk=v&ml_video=85100

The Great Turtle Race - Leatherback Sea Turtles Race for their Lives!

2007-04-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

Yahoo and other groups are sponsoring "The Great Turtle Race" to raise awareness about the critically endangered leatherback sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean.

http://www.greatturtlerace.com/

Although leatherbacks have existed for a 100 million years, they may go extinct in the next 10 years. Do your part to learn more and take action to protect sea turtles from extinction.

Leatherbacks will be released from Costa Rica and head to the Galapagos Islands. Learn about their fatastic voyage the perils they face in the oceans.

Habitat destruction by beach development, consumption of sea turtles and their eggs, ocean pollution that kills, and wasteful fishing techniques are all causing the rapid decline of leatherback sea turtles and other wildlife.

You can help save sea turtles no matter where you are by avoiding seafood that is caught by destructive fishing methods, such as longline fishing and drift gillnet fishing. Tuna, swordfish, and shark - all declining in numbers as well - are often caught by methods that kill or injure other wildlife. Do your part and learn about sustainable seafood alternatives or skip seafood altogether.

Ask the Vatican to End Sea Turtle Consumption During Lent

2007-04-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

The great people at Pro Peninsula are organizing a campaign to ask the Pope and the Vatican to encourage Catholics to stop eating sea turtles during Lent. Please take action now to support this effort!

http://www.propeninsula.org/campaign/1/5.html

Pro Peninsula stated that an estimated 10,000 sea turtles are killed and eaten during holiday festivals each year! With so few sea turtles remaining in our oceans, it's imperative that communities find alternative foods that are healthy for the people who eat them and do not put sea turtles at risk of extinction.

New Year's Resolution to Save Sea Turtles - No tuna, swordfish, or shark!

2006-12-26T17:53:00.000-08:00

This year make a resolution to help threatened and endangered sea turtles and other marine species by making a New Year's resolution to eliminate or reduce your consumption of tuna, swordfish, and shark. The best gift you can give the oceans - and your health - this holiday season.

Every day longline and drift gillnet fishing vessels imperil the survival of sea turtles and other marine species fishing for tuna and swordfish. Sea turtles are killed or injured when caught or hooked because these fishing methods catch many animals not the targets of the fishermen. Bycatch, as this problem is known, wastes precious marine life that is thrown overboard dead, dying, or injured.

Scientists have found that 90 percent of large predatory species, which includes tuna and swordfish, have been depleted in our oceans in just about 50 years of fishing. Recently, studies also reported that commercial fisheries may collapse by 2048 if we continue to overfish popular species. Not only are sea turtles at risk, but tuna, swordfish, and shark are threatened by industrial longline and drift gillnet fishing.

Fewer fish means more fishing to supply demand, which continues to put pressure on the dwindling numbers of sea turtles. Since 1980 alone, Pacific leatherback sea turtles and loggerhead sea turtles have fallen by 80 to 95 percent, primarily to wasteful fishing practices. In 2000, about 200,000 loggerhead sea turtles and 40,000 leatherback sea turtles were taken by pelagic longline fishing. At this rate, Pacific sea turtles may go extinct long before commercial fisheries collapse due to overfishing.

Mercury and other contaminants build up in large predatory species like tuna and swordfish, making them unhealthy for you to eat. The FDA and EPA tell women who intend to become pregnant, are currently pregnant, or nursing and children not to eat swordfish or shark ever. Additionally, women and children are warned eat less than 6 ounces of most tuna species. However, Consumer Union, which publishes Consumer Reports, advises pregnant women not to eat any canned tuna because of the danger methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin, poses to developing fetuses. Consumer Union adds that young children should minimize their canned tuna consumption. If you still want to eat up to two meals of fish per week, then find the fish that are safest for you and least dangerous for the oceans. Rule of thumb: smaller fish that do not live as long do not build up - or bioaccumulate - pollution in our oceans, making them healthier for you to eat.

Do you your part to protect sea turtles by doing nothing. Just stop eating tuna, swordfish, and shark to reduce your impact on the oceans and to help save sea turtles. That is the most important thing you can do for Pacific sea turtles in 2007.

For healthy oceans and a healthy new year, make it your New Year's resolution to give up or cut down on tuna and swordfish. The sea turtles thank you!