CEA Newsletter – March 2008 CEA Newsletters are in English and Spanish. Para leer este boletín en español, haz clic aquí.
Home Page Conservation Programs Calendar	Weak Baby Turtles Appearing on the Beaches of Quintana Roo by Armando Lorences In recent days there have been reports of hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtle hatchlings appearing on the beaches of Quintana Roo, weak or already dead. So far the exact causes are unknown. The person in charge of the network of sea turtle stranding in the Riviera Maya, MVZ Ana Negrete, suggests that the turtle hatchlings are suffering from dehydration and weakness. As soon as more information is known it will be announced. Preliminary results, however, show that plastics have been found in the turtles' stomachs, suggesting they are starving to death. Plastic trash floating in the sea can resemble what the turtles would eat naturally, so they are ingesting the plastic, thinking it's food. Meanwhile we are appealing to the hotels and condominiums to help. Click here to see how.
	International Symposium of Sea Turtles CEA took part in the 28th International Symposium of Sea Turtles, held in Loreto, Baja California South, from January 19–26 this year. During this event, specialists in marine turtles from around the world were brought together, some of whom presented the results of investigations being carried out, as well as proposals to achieve better results in the protection, conservation, research and management of the turtles. The State Committee for Protection, Conservation, Research and Management of Sea Turtles of Quintana Roo participated on February 23 in the presentation, "Regional Model of Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) Reproduction in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico," to which CEA added its data.
	CEA Inaugurates the International Year of the Reef On January 29 CEA inaugurated 2008 as the International Year of the Reef with a reef photo exhibit. The exhibition took place in the CEA Center, where more than 120 people came to see the great images that locals and tourists provided. Click here to read how CEA is celebrating the Year of the Reef and what you can do to help the reefs. Interest in reef ecology is increasing around the world mostly because, globally, so many people are working locally to improve human management of our planet's marine resources and the "rainforests of the seas"—coral reefs. Please click here to see what CNN has been reporting in its Grief on the reef special edition. CEA was able to participate in a series of interviews. Please pass the article along to help inform more people about how to create "relief for the reef in grief."
	Celebrating World Water Day Wastewater Management in Akumal by Edith Sosa Bravo The Quintana Roo aquifer is our potable water source. It also offers recreational opportunities in natural cenotes and caves, and is a very important environment for a great variety of coastal aquatic life, making our state a prime tourist destination. As you know, one of the most polluting agents of the aquifer is the untreated wastewater discharging into it. In recent years, CEA—through the volunteers of the Water Quality Program, the work of management, and the lobbying of staff—has successfully obtained information on the handling of wastewater in Akumal. We have found that the pueblo's treatment plant handled by CAPA (the state water commission) receives 40% of the sewage of the town's population, with 60% using septic tanks and direct injection into the aquifer (CAPA, 2007). On the other hand, in the tourist zone (Yal-ku, Akumal North, Half Moon Bay and Akumal Bay), 48% of the residents are using artificial wetland treatment, 28% septic tanks, and 24% is unknown treatment. Based on this information, we are developing a strategy with the goal of assuring that Akumal sewage is treated properly and does not impact the aquifer and the reef in a negative way. For this strategy to be successful requires the support of all those who live in Akumal. We invite everyone to collaborate to meet this goal.
	Macduff Everton Photo Exhibition Helps Celebrate World Water Day CEA is delighted to receive an exhibition of the photographer Macduff Everton. It will be shown in the CEA Center March 19–24, to help celebrate World Water Day on March 22. Click here to learn more about Everton and his work.
	Third Annual Festival – Save Our Seas All of us at CEA would like to take the opportunity to thank each and every person who helped so generously with their time and support to make this 2008 festival such a special event. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves and thank you all for participating. CEA’s success depends on its ability to raise funds for its conservation activities, and the annual festivals are an important source of funding. Click here to read more.
	Teenagers Join CEA to Protect the Environment The Environmental Education Program includes a youth committee called "Workers for Ecology" composed of 25 students of the Telesecundaria School of the town of Akumal. This committee has the objective to educate and raise awareness about environmental protection issues. Among its functions are to develop a campaign about solid waste and to work with children in environmental subjects. In addition, the young people will become knowledgeable on environmental topics through talks, guided visits and diverse activities related to the natural world. We need your help to provide support and materials for all CEA's programs. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to CEA today. Thank you!
	More Than 135.096 Tons Collected! CEA has been working for a whole year with the local government in campaigns to collect recyclables and electronic waste. The results have been awesome, and we want to share them with you. Please continue supporting us and joining us in these efforts. 54.1 tons of electronics 1.5 tons of batteries 64.863 tons of paper and carton 2.008 tons of PET plastic 12.295 tons of glass 205.5 kilograms of aluminum Thanks to all of you, all of this is not in the trash dumps, like pictured.
	Species of the Month The one-inch long flamingo tongue snail (Cyphoma gibbosum) lives on various species of soft corals and sea fans. The shell is white and its colors come from the thin flaps of live mantle tissue that cover the shell. The animal actually breathes through this tissue. Every day they are becoming more uncommon because of over collecting by snorkelers and scuba divers, who often think that the shell itself is colorful, rather than the inhabitant.
	Tell a Friend Please continue to tell your friends about CEA! Many CEA Members join after being referred to CEA by people like you. If you have questions about how you can become more involved, please contact us. The Yucatan Environmental Foundation is the U.S. 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor for CEA. All donations made through YEF for CEA are tax deductible in the U.S. If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, or simply need to contact CEA, please click here.