Florida joins global effort to protect sea turtles using DNA tracking

SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. (WINK)—A new global project called ShellBank is using DNA to help scientists track sea turtles from the beaches where they hatch all the way to the threats they face across the ocean.

ShellBank is the world's first global sea turtle DNA traceability database. Nearly 280 people worldwide are trained in genetics, lab work and turtle conservation to help build it.

Researchers collect DNA from turtles across the globe, building what's essentially a global "fingerprint map" of sea turtles. Co-founder Christina Madden says that map can trace turtles back to their nesting beaches and reveal migration routes.

The database also helps crack down on the illegal turtle trade.

"The marine turtle illegal trade is still very alive and intact," Madden said.

"We are still concerned of this market, it seems to be somewhat covert, more of a black market, of course, there's crime convergence with other issues, you know, drug trafficking and other wildlife crime species being trafficked, so we know that this is still a cause for caution," Madden said.

The DNA tracing helps identify which turtle populations are being targeted by illegal traders.

"If we know which population is being targeted, then we know which one's most at risk and which one needs protection," Madden said.

The Shell Bank team says the database now holds about 20,000 genetic records, with a goal of 30,000 and growing. They're also training more conservationists worldwide and expanding into more countries every year.

A Shell Bank team member is now based in Florida.