Cooperative Marine Turtle Tagging Program

Until April 1999 there were two sea turtle tag distribution and archival centers for the Western North Atlantic: NMFS SEFSC and the University of Florida Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research (ACCSTR). The Archie Carr Center distributed tags to many collaborators in all areas of the world since 1955, having distributed over 200,000 tags. They have established an internationally known database system and communication network. Individuals of that network communicate throughout the world with local fishermen and other citizens and help to arrange for the return of tags from captured turtles. NMFS had maintained its CMTTP since 1980 and had distributed over 100,000 tags. In April 1999, NMFS consolidated its database with that of the Archie Carr Center, transferring funds to the Center to support the purchasing of tags and for managing the consolidated database.
The purpose of this contract is to support the consolidated activities of the two groups. This serves to eliminate the duplication of necessary infrastructure and minimizes the duplication of tag identification numbers among programs and confusion associated with returning recovered tags to two separate entities..