Lead researcher from the University of Exeter, Dr. Ana Nuno, will be delivering to the media a report on socioeconomic aspects of turtle conservation in the Cayman Islands compiled by Dr. Nuno and her team.

The report will be delivered on Monday October 19th.

Also present will be Department of Environment Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie; DoE Deputy Director Tim Austin, DoE Senior Research Officers John Bothwell and Janice Blumenthal.

The Department of Environment was awarded funding from the UK Darwin Initiative for a socioeconomic survey of turtle meat consumption in the Cayman Islands. The DoE contracted Dr. Nuno to conduct the survey and create a report on her findings.

The aim of the project is to provide robust scientific data on the role of the Cayman Turtle Farm in wild turtle conservation and determine the cultural importance, current prevalence, and socioeconomics of turtle consumption.

Results from the report will ultimately form the basis of a Sea Turtle Species Conservation Plan under the National Conservation Law, which will be drafted at a later time and then publicized and released for public comment.

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