Profile picture of turtle for Photo ID project.

We aim to identify the specific ecological role those resident hawksbills serve in the rocky reef off the coast of Mayto-Tehuamixtle, Jalisco. This area is a primary site for fishing and tourism and fulfils the livelihood of various inland communities. We believe that the rocky reef habitat may be identified as critical foraging habitat and should be recognized as such for the long-term conservation of the population.

We will determine population status, growth rates, body condition index and residence time of the different size classes of the local hawkbills. As well as collecting blood, tissue and stomach content, for future biochemistry and health, genetic and diet studies. We will also collaborate with other investigations studying epibionts for stable isotopes studies, photo-identification and skeletochronology studies. Workshops with locals, tourists, volunteers and students will also take place to create conscience and spread our work.

This study will also work as a base-line for future local studies, obtaining information about coastal bathymetry, bentic fauna as well as helping create a standardized protocol to extend our work to other communities along the coast, as well as giving our project a greater reach, with the local fishermen and divers as the main actors, to create conscience of the value of live sea

turtles.