SPECIAL CRUISER PRESENTATION
Introduction to the Sea Turtle Spotter Project
ProFaunaBaja & Pacific Sea Turtle Conservation Efforts
Friday, October 23, 3-5
5 PM
Ballroom – Silver Gate
ate Yacht Club
2091 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego
(Across
Across the street from the Boat Launch Ramp & Dinghy Landing
anding on Shelter Island)
I
Downwind Marine is very happy to announce this special presentation on the research of Stephanie Rousso,
R
Wildlife Biologist with ProFaunaBaja, and the introduction of SeaTurtleSpotter,, a new free app for boaters to
upload crowd-sourced
sourced sea turtle sighting info, GPS coordinates, photos, etc that will help save the sea turtle
species from extinction. Our effort at Downwind Marine is to help cruisers learn how to use this great mobile app
and checklist to help in the research that collects data to map out sea turtle distribution and identify high-priority
high
conservation areas of the these magnificent creatures in the Eastern Pacific and Gulf of California waters. Use this
link
ink for Ms. Rousso’s worksheet handout – www.downwindmarine.com/downloads/SailForSeaTurtles.pdf.
www.downwindmarine.com/downloads/SailForSeaTurtles.pdf
Proyecto ProFaunaBaja is a society for scientists, students, and naturalis
naturalists
ts who share a specific goal to conserve
biodiversity and vulnerable ecosystems in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The conservation and education efforts of
this organization is most worthy of cruiser support and the
their speaker at this event is Mike Brozda who
wh is hoping to
enlist as many cruisers as possible this year into the Sea Turtle Spotting Program
Program. The Pacific Sea Turtles are not
their only focus for conservation out there either. Although they are the focal fauna of the Sea Turtle Project,
ProFaunaBaja also encourages all mariners along the Baja Coast to report findings of the jumping mobula rays,
manta rays, sharks (including the whale sharks), whales, and anything else the public can identify.
More information is also needed on the intensive fishing activity in Baja waters and researchers seek the reporting
of any observation that may identify overfishing when this occurs. Additionally while traveling or residing in the
southern Baja California Peninsula, cruisers are especially enc
encouraged
ouraged to make it out to patrol for nesting sea
turtles, release baby hatchlings, and if interested
interested, to please consider joining ProFaunaBaja on a research tagging
trip.
Learn more about the Sea Turtle Spotting Project at www.ProFaunaBaja.org or better yet, join us Friday afternoon
for the Special Seminar entitled:
Sea Turtle Spotting: The Best Free, F
Fun
un Activity You Can Do from Your Boat
Our guest speaker for the event is Mike Brozda, MA
MA, journalist, blogger, pilot and veteran Pacific cruiser who also
is a resident of Todos Santos, Baja Sur and provides insightful reading about Baja California that is posted online.
Mike and his sister, Amie Brozda of San Diego, are also joining the Baja HaHa Rally this year aboard the 42-ft
catamaran CATATUDE,, with owners Tom and Helen Wurfl. Mike and Amie are both looking forward to meeting
other cruisers at the Friday event and anticipate a spectacular sail down the Baja Coast with the Baja HaHa Rally.
For more info on Mike and his topical writing of Baja Sur and its people, visit his blogs at
www.experiencebaja.com/ and www.mikebrozda.com
www.mikebrozda.com.
The crew at Sailing Supply/Downwind
Downwind Marine highly encourages cruisers to attend this Special Seminar
Presentation kindly hosted by the members of Silver Gate Yacht Club on Shelter Island and to learn more about
the ProFaunaBaja organization and how cruisers can join iin the protection of our valuable marine wildlife. The
venue is easy to reach on Shelter Island by walking (a short walk from the Harbor Police Guest Dock) or by dinghy
(Cruisers can secure dinghies to the “beach mooring” at the dinghy landing located on the beach south of the boat
ramp on Shelter Island – then just cross the street to SGYC!)
Sea Turtles should live forever – Make it Happen!
Email Caption from Stephanie Rousso: “If you destroy Nature, Nature will destroy you” - Wangari Maathai