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 Proyecto Karumbé in Uruguay is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and conservation of sea turtles. It was created in 1999 by a group of Uruguayan students, educators, biologists and researchers. Up until the beginning of 1999, there were no sea turtle research and conservation programs in Uruguay. However, at the beginning of 2001, Karumbé was awarded its first financial support, winning the Gold Award from the BP Conservation Program, BirdLife International and Fauna Floral International. Support also came in 2002 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Sea turtle research and conservation activities with fisherman and coastal communities is now ongoing. Based on data from preliminary surveys, incidental capture was established as the main threat to Uruguayan sea turtles in 2002.
 Proyecto Karumbé wanted to establish that the coast was a significant feeding ground for sea turtles. One way to ascertain that was by counting the turtles they saw. It was also crucial for scientists to net the turtles to know their age and size as well as to take pictures for scientific purposes.
Executive Director of Casa Tortuga, Karen Comstock, volunteered with Karumbé Uruguay on a survey of pelagic green turtle populations in the Barra de Valizas region and helped to catch a green turtle. Comstock remembers taking a 50-meter net and swimming out into the Atlantic Ocean in order to put the net where they had sighted turtles.
After volunteering for Proyecto Karumbé, Karen saw that the organization might benefit from having a boat to assist with their work. And so, the Boats for Biologists program was created.
 This experience with Proyecto Karumbé contributed to Casa Tortuga's methodology of going out and volunteering to get an idea of what is being done by different grassroots groups. Developing relationships with other organizations allows for an authentic exchange, and a good understanding of the needs of each individual organization.
The video, Pescadores y Tortugas (Fisherman and Turtles) showcases the relationship between turtles, Uruguayan fisherman and the way they can come together to help conservation efforts. Watch the Video
For more information on Proyecto Karumbé, visit: www.karumbe.org.
Make a donation to help Proyecto Karumbé through Casa Tortuga's Boats for Biologists Project!
images copyright © karumbe.org
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