The U.S. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has developed a 10-year strategy to improve the recovery of seven sea turtle populations in the Western Hemisphere. They are now extending grants for researchers—Sea Turtles Program Spring 2015—focusing on conservation of Caribbean Hawksbill turtles in selected coastal zones of the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Haiti, Barbados, the Caribbean coast of Mexico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The deadline for pre-proposal applications is October 20, 2014 and the full proposal due date (by invitation only) is December 8, 2014.

The program is open to U.S. nonprofit 501(c) organizations; U.S. federal government agencies; state government agencies; local governments; municipal governments; Indian tribes; educational institutions; businesses; unincorporated individuals; and international organizations. Most grants will range from US$50 thousand to US$300 thousand. A minimum of a 1:1 match of cash and/or in-kind services is required.

Key conservation strategies for this program include:

Reduce incidental capture in fishing gear – support incentive-based approaches for the development and implementation of turtle-friendly fishing gear and practices;

Reduce direct exploitation of adult turtles – create incentives to reduce or eliminate poaching, hunting and directed fishing of sea turtles; and

Reduce or eliminate direct exploitation of sea turtle eggs – support increased nest protection through law enforcement, development of alternative livelihoods for poachers, reduction of feral dogs and other nest predators, and improve outreach and education to local communities.

For more information, all guidelines and application forms, see http://www.nfwf.org/seaturtles/Pages/spring2015rfp.aspx#.VDmVhfk7uFy

[Photo Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Credit: Matt Kleffer; from http://www.nfwf.org/seaturtles/Pages/home.aspx#.VDmYefk7uFw ]