 MEMBER OF THE MONTH – August 2007
Yonat Swimmer
Country: USA
Occupation: “Fisheries Biologist” (But I’ve never caught a fish! :) )
Specialty: Reducing the impacts of global fisheries on sea turtles.
Best part about my job: Ideally, the best part of my job would be to actually make a difference by reducing the numbers of sea turtles caught in fishing gear. I also love the travel and learning about new cultures, and I truly enjoy the flexibility in my job (as offered by NOAA) that enables me to juggle both family life and fascinating work. I have made some truly wonderful friends doing my work, which is a huge plus as well.
Biggest challenges I
face: Same as above—actually being effective in improving sea turtle population trends!
The most unusual or
exciting thing that's happened to me while working in the field: Once when I was (much younger!) working on a leatherback nesting beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico, I was wrapped up in my shower curtain (to reduce bug bites) and getting some rest in between nesting turtles. All of a sudden I felt something crawling on me, and turns out, it was a mass of hatchlings that had just emerged from the nest and were heading down to the beach. They crawled all over me--it was an amazing feeling.
Why I like being a member
of the MTSG: It’s ideal--great people who share similar interests.
Turtle researcher /
conservationist I most admire:
Tony Tucker. Tony was my Earthwatch leader in 1984 and was an incredible inspiration. Tony invited me to assist him with his research on nest temperature and sex determination, and I can’t thank him enough for the opportunities he offered me. He is also an incredible naturalist and ecologist.
When I'm not working on
turtles I like to: Be with my kids doing adventure-like things. I love to hike and read, but don’t seem to have enough time in the day for all that I enjoy.
Ten years from now, I
hope I will be doing: the same….
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