Study Guide
Grades 7-12, College, Adult
Directed by Steve Cowan
Produced by The Sea Turtle Restoration Project
DVD Purchase $195, Rent $45
VHS Purchase $195, Rent $45
US Release Date: 1999
Copyright Date: 1998
DVD ISBN: 1-59458-629-2
VHS ISBN: 1-56029-790-5
Subjects
American Studies
Animal Behavior/Communication
Animals
Coasts and Oceans
Conservation
Consumer Action
Ecology
Endangered Species
Environment
Environmental Ethics
Fisheries
Habitat
Life Science
Life Science
Marine Biology
Sea Turtles
Wildlife
Awards and Festivals
CINE Golden Eagle
Bronze Apple, National Educational Media Network Competition
Merit Award, International Wildlife Film Festival
Honorable Mention, Columbus International Film Festival
East Lansing Film Festival
The use of TEDs in shrimpers' nets would allow sea turtles to escape.
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"Well crafted, balanced and well edited...I recommend this video very highly." Barb Butler, Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, MC Journal |
The endangered sea turtle emerges from its nest and dashes to the sea. So begins an odyssey that will take the hatchling on a several thousand mile and decades-long migration, ending in its return as a giant adult to the very beach where it began life - completing a cycle that has endured for 100 million years.
The modern world poses many threats to ancient sea turtles: poaching, entanglement in fishing gear, destruction of nesting sites, and pollution of the oceans. The greatest threat comes from the capture of sea turtles in shrimp nets. As the public's taste for shrimp increases, so does the danger to sea turtles. Turtle excluder devices (TEDs), installed in shrimp nets, offer the simple solution. If the public demands "turtle-safe" shrimp the way they do "dolphin-safe" tuna, then the industry will be forced to use TEDs consistently.
Reviews
"Environmental studies and science classes will find this an essential aid in their consideration of current environmental events."
School Library Journal
"The high-quality film documents the threats facing sea turtles and educates viewers about the urgent need to protect these endangered creatures... an effective educational tool for legislators and others."
The Animals' Agenda
"An overview of human impacts on the survival of sea turtles...illustrates the complexity of the problems, and provides insight into why solutions are neither easily devised nor implemented. Suggests concrete avenues for improvement...Leaves the viewer with a realistic by hopeful outlook."
Cathy Schaeff, PhD, Dept. of Conservation Biology and Molecular Ecology, American University
"Makes room for discourse on a variety of levels, inevitably leaving the viewer with the realization that we must evaluate our lifestyles and our priorities."
H. Peter Steeves, Asst. Professor of Philosophy, DePaul University