GRENADA, Bathway Beach, Northern St. Patrick’s Parish - July 2010
Acquisition, construction and installation of interpretive materials to promote protection and conservation of Leatherback turtles
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Grenada has one of the largest nesting populations of critically endangered Leatherback turtles in the Caribbean, which nest on Levera and Bathway beaches, located within 450-acre Levera National Park along the island’s northern coastline. Thousands of people visit the nesting beaches every year in an effort to see the turtles, which has resulted in some unwelcome practices on the beaches, such as littering, noise pollution, and physical interference with the animals. In response to requests for help, the Fisheries Division has passed new legislation to help protect the habitat and nesting turtles, and has also allocated space in the Levera National Park Office, located at Bathway Beach, for an interpretation and staging area for tours and visitors to the park. Seacology is providing funds to Ocean Spirits, a local NGO, for the purchase, construction and installation of a variety of interpretive display materials to be housed at the turtle interpretation center within the park office building. This center will relieve some of the pressures on the beaches, especially during the nesting season. 
UPDATE June 2011 - The project is proceeding well, but has experienced some delays due to unforeseen circumstances. Activities began in earnest in March, with the purchase of some of the necessary electronic items. A decision was taken to put in burglar proof gates and bars at all windows and doors. It became clear that new electrical installations would be necessary in the building, since the ones in place are the 220 volts commonly used in Grenada, and all the equipment purchased is the standard North American 110 volts. Both the electrical and security installations have required getting in contractors, getting materials and labor quotes and then awarding contracts for the works. The security installations are in place, the originally planned carpentry works have been completed, and the electrical work is scheduled to be completed in late May. A meeting of all parties involved in the project has been scheduled for the last week in May, to plan the launch event for the project, now projected for early June.
Indicates full or partial funding by Seacology Japan
