Eric’s Underwater Turtle Monitoring Project is Making Waves

May 4, 2025 – A ground-breaking marine conservation project is making headway under Tobago’s waters off its north-east and south coasts. Each month, trained local teams—made up of dive instructors, dive masters, and community-based field technicians—plunge into Tobago waters. Their mission is to get close to the turtles, record their movements, tag individuals, and gather critical data. The initiative, the brainchild of ERIC CEO Aljoscha A. Wothke—focuses on both the northeast-Man O-War Bay and Speyside and the southwest coast-Cove, Crown Point, Pigeon Point, and Mt. Irvine, two regions known for their rich marine biodiversity and frequent turtle activity. The project’s aim is to understand how different turtle species use Tobago’s waters and how to protect them. The project has already amassed a wealth of data and is poised to unlock new insights into turtle behavior for Tobago. The project is a shining example of how science, sustainability, and community engagement can merge to protect one of the planet’s most iconic marine species. By blending rigorous research with grassroots involvement, Tobago is showing that the future of conservation can be both deeply local and globally significant.