Assisted by his daughter Leilana, Nick conducts a laparoscopic examination of a turtle in Australia.
Marine Turtle Specialist Group Co-Chair Dr. Nicolas Pilcher is honored this month as one of IUCN’s Conservation Heroes for his extensive work in marine turtle conservation. Based in Sabah, Malaysia where he founded Marine Research Foundation, a local non-profit organization, Nick has worked throughout the world to establish and support marine turtle conservation programs. This includes ongoing collaborations with local communities, fishermen, and businesses in the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific region. To learn more about Nick’s work, head over to IUCN’s website to see the full profile.
In an article released today in the journal Science, a team of scientists (which includes six MTSG members) argue that improved science and a focus on prioritization of research activities is needed to ensure effective recovery efforts for sea turtles and other threatened species in the Gulf of Mexico. The article urges for a greater investment in focused research activities as part of the oil spill recovery efforts, and highlights seven elements that should be integrated into any such research. Beyond recovery efforts in the Gulf, the authors make a compelling case for the U.S. to develop “strategic national research plans for key marine species and ecosystems based on evaluation of cause and effect and on integrated monitoring of abundance and demographic traits.” 
