General Description of Sea Turtle Program:

The Texas A&M University at Galveston Sea Turtle and Fisheries Ecology Research Lab (STFERL) has been conducting research on turtles in the western Gulf of Mexico under the direction of Dr. André M. Landry, Jr. since 1991. Much of this research has focused on the life history and distribution of Kemp’s ridleys (Lepidochelys kempii) in the northwestern Gulf, but related investigations have included ridley diet, energetics, capture stress and toxicology, as well as monitoring of green turtle assemblages (Chelonia mydas) along the middle and lower Texas coast. Current research involves examining the distribution and movements of Kemp’s ridleys from the upper Texas coast in order to investigate apparent changes in the distribution of juveniles in the northwestern Gulf; sea turtle nesting activity and post-nesting movements along the upper Texas coast; species composition, occurrence, distribution and behavior of sea turtles in Texas bays; and foraging ecology of immature green sea turtles in Texas’ lower Laguna Madre.

Sea Turtle Recovery:

The STFERL is collaborating with the NOAA Fisheries Sea Turtle Facility in Galveston to respond to sea turtles incidentally-captured on recreational hook-and-line gear, stranding on upper Texas coast shores, and nesting Kemp’s ridleys from the Texas-Louisiana border to Matagorda Peninsula. Response to these turtles allows for collection of distribution and morphometric data, as well as tagging, rehabilitation (when necessary), and protection of eggs. Some of these turtles are outfitted with satellite transmitters as part of funded research described above. Detailed descriptions of these funded projects are provided below.

Click here to find out what to do if you find a sea turtle in Texas.
 

Satellite Telemetry:

The STFERL is using satellite telemetry to characterize sea turtle movement, behavior and use of nearshore habitats in the western Gulf of Mexico. STFERL's tracking program is designed to fill voids in our knowledge of the in-water dynamics of Kemp’s ridley, green and loggerhead sea turtles and generate data essential to revising the Kemp’s Ridley Recovery Plan. The STFERL deployed its first satellite transmitter on a juvenile Kemp’s ridley in September 2004 and, depending upon species, has tracked juvenile, subadult and adult ridleys, greens and loggerheads since then.

Satellite Transmitter Attachment
Satellite Tagging and Release of a Juvenile Kemp’s Ridley
Release of a Satellite_Tagged Post-Nesting Kemp's Ridley: Photos
Release of a Satellite-Tagged Subadult Kemp's Ridley: Photos
TAMUG Kemp's Ridley Tracking on Seaturtle.org

Sea Turtle Gallery:

TAMUG GLO Satellite Tagging Photo Gallery | Poster | Seaturtle.org Image Library
 

Selected Sea Turtle Publications, Abstracts, Theses & Dissertations:

COMING SOON!
 

Sea Turtle Links:

TAMUG September 2004 Press Release	Sea Turtle Restoration Project
September 2004 Galveston County Daily News article	seaturtle.org
NOAA Fisheries Galveston, Protected Species Branch	Satellite Tracking
Help Endangered Animals – Ridley Turtles (HEART)	Padre Island National Seashore Kemp’s Ridley Project
Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network	Marine Turtle Newsletter
Sea Turtle Online Bibliography	May 2005 Galveston County Daily News Article

Donors:

Many thanks those who have donated to our satellite tracking efforts through HEART and Seaturtle.org, including: Carole Allen, Carolyn Brightman Irvine, Nancy Kanady, Les Pugh, June Rodriguez, and Frances Ryan!