Tortugas Marinas del Tuyú
The Sea Turtle Directory
Country:
Organization / Project Name: Tortugas Marinas del Tuyú
Website: https://aquamarina.org/
Email: victoria@aquamarina.org
Description: AquaMarina was founded in 1998 in Buenos Aires city (Argentina). Since its beginning it was dedicated to the conservation of marine biodiversity and coastal-marine ecosystems. Its mission is to protect marine species and ecosystems while promoting the sustainable use of marine resources. Following the unexpected passing of its founder, Pablo Bordino, in 2018, the core team reorganized and formalized as a non-profit organization in 2021, to continue its legacy and conservation initiatives. AquaMarina operates primarily in Buenos Aires Province (northern Argentina, SW Atlantic), where human activities such as fishing, tourism, and industrial development impact coastal-marine ecosystems. AquaMarina has four key programs, namely: 1. The Franciscana Dolphin Program: it aims to reduce the bycatch of the species through collaboration with local fishing communities, research on the species ecology, and advocating for protection laws. 2. The Biodiversity Program: it aims to develop conservation projects for threatened coastal and marine species of seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals. 3. The Environmental Education Program ("Escuela del Mar" Program): it aims to raise awareness about the vulnerability of marine ecosystems through educational activities at the formal (within educational institutions), informal (mass media, social networks) and non-formal levels (workshops, talks, activities at the beach or the port). It crosses the rest of the programs transversally. 4. The Environmental Management Program: it aims to recognize beach resorts that minimize environmental impact from tourism, as well as initiatives involving sustainable fisheries, beach clean up and waste management. Over the years, the organization has achieved significant milestones, such as satellite tracking of franciscana dolphins, and the evaluation of alternative fishing gears (or modifications) to reduce the species bycatch. AquaMarina is also a member of the Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea, a consortium of environmental non-profit organizations that integrates conservation initiatives from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile. Finally, AquaMarina is committed to addressing environmental challenges and building conservation capacity in Argentina.
Species of focus: Leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea), Green turtles (Chelonia mydas), Loggerheads (Caretta caretta)
Volunteer program:
Tourist activities (Y/N):
Primary Areas of Work: Satellite telemetry, In water research, Fisheries bycatch reduction / management
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/fundacionAquaMarina/
Instagram Profile: https://www.instagram.com/aquamarina_ong/