The Sea Turtles in Trinidad and Tobago: Sentinels of Anthropogenic Stressors in the Marine Environment project aims to deepen understanding of how pollution and climate change are impacting the marine environment in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS). By focusing on sea turtles—key species that reflect the health of ocean ecosystems—the research will assess plastic ingestion, exposure to pollutants such as heavy metals and pesticides, and dietary patterns under changing climate conditions. Through a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach, the project will generate vital data to guide evidence-based marine conservation in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.
Beyond advancing scientific knowledge, this research will strengthen regional capacity for marine conservation by establishing standardized national monitoring systems, developing transferable protocols for other Caribbean SIDS, and ensuring open access to data on pollutant exposure and food web dynamics. In doing so, it will contribute to global initiatives on Oceans and Climate Action, particularly the standardization of marine data collection and the development of survey protocols that improve international collaboration. Ultimately, this project positions sea turtles as sentinels of environmental change, providing insights crucial for protecting marine ecosystems in the Global South.
