CEDTM (Centre d’Etude et de Découverte des Tortues Marines) is a non-profit organization based in Réunion island working on natural and cultural patrimonies related to research and conservation on sea turtles, marine mammals in their natural habitat. Our aim is to develop, valorise, and spread with all appropriate means the knowledge on sea turtles and marine mammals. Our association has participated to various actions that favour the application and the development of strategies related to sea turtles and marine mammal research and conservation. CEDTM distributes general information about sea turtles and marine mammals to the Réunion island public and encourages the sustainable development of tourism in marine environment, promotes science and educational tools and sensitization for the marine environment. Since 1997, CEDTM has been engaged in numerous research and conservation projects on sea turtles in Réunion island, Eparses islands and in the South West Indian Ocean (SWIO) region. These projects cover various topics from migrations of green sea turtles in the SWIO, juvenile movements of green sea turtles in Réunion island, to population dynamic of sea turtles in Réunion island, Eparses islands, Nosy Iranja (Madagascar) an in Mohéli (Comoros).

CEDTM is in charge of animating the National Action Plan (PNA) on sea turtles in the SWIO and in Réunion island. CEDTM is responsible for implementing two compensatory marine measures of the project nouvelle route du littoral funded by the Réunion island regional council:

– MCM03: Restauration of sea turtles nesting beach sites in Réunion island aiming at rehabilitating 5 hectares of nesting sites

– MCM05: Improving marine mammals and sea turtle’s quietude which aims at sensitizing commercial and recreative whale watchers for a sustainable and responsible whale watching in Réunion island.
CEDTM is also engaging with French Biodiversity Agency on a study on seagrasses structure, dynamic and their ecological role in the SWIO region.