Turtle Island’s International Director Randall Arauz has been named as a PEW Marine Conservation Fellow. Arauz is one of five distinguished scientists and conservationists from around the world named as a 2016 Pew Marine Conservation Fellow. Arauz plans to use his fellowship to strengthen the sustainability of marine protected areas, and to foster shark conservation in Central America.

Turtle Island signed onto a letter with Defenders of Wildlife opposing H.R. 2406, the so-called “Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act of 2015.” The legislation contains a broad range…
Turtle Island Restoration Network announced today that its director of the Gulf of Mexico office, Carole Allen, will be retiring. Allen has served Turtle Island in this role for 14 years.

On February 10th, the California Coastal Commission for the first time in its 43 year history fired its executive director, Dr. Charles Lester, throwing one of the most powerful governmental agencies in the nation into turmoil by undermining the authority of its independent staff that evaluates coastal development proposals.
An endangered baby river dolphin died after it was passed around in a frenzy by beach goers wanting to take ‘selfies’ with the wild animal. The dolphin also faces deadly driftnets at sea.

President Obama plans to sign legislation this week that will effectively ban American imports of fish caught by forced labor in Southeast Asia. The legislation, passed by the Congress last week with bipartisan support, would bar imports of products that use forced or indentured labor.

The ‘Shark Enemy Award’ brings international pressure and negative press on the recipient, and our petitions drive home the point that this issue will continue to be on the table until policies change to protect sharks. The hope is that this unwanted attention will force a reversal in anti-shark policies.

Turtle Island welcomes Randall Arauz, a world renowned and award-winning biologist, to our team in the newly created position of International Director.
Today, delegates at an international convention voted unanimously to list 22 species of threatened sharks and rays. Listed species will gain greater conservation protections in the regions they inhabit, and countries with listed species within their borders will be required to help protect these shark and ray species.
During this important meeting experts will agree on urgent measures to protect shark and ray populations from extinction; and Costa Ricans will call on their President to secure protection for hammerhead, silky and thresher sharks.