In 2026, the Department of Environment launched a new sea turtle tracking project that combines acoustic and satellite telemetry to better understand turtle movements in Cayman waters and across the wider Caribbean. Acoustic tracking is supported by the Darwin Initiative, and satellite transmitter deployments are funded through sponsorships from local businesses and community partners.
Meet the team
Alejandro Prat Varela – Project lead
Alejandro is a marine scientist from Spain, specialising in oceanography and marine ecology, and the Project Leader of @seaturtletrackerky. He has been working with sea turtles with the Cayman Islands Department of Environment since 2013, contributing to research and conservation efforts aimed at understanding and protecting these important keystone species.
Since 2007, he has worked across polar, temperate, and tropical marine environments, studying marine life from microscopic plankton to some of the ocean’s largest animals. Sea turtle research and conservation have been a major focus throughout his career, combining field research with innovative tracking technologies.
Passionate about understanding how marine species interact with their environment, Alejandro is excited to uncover the movements and habitat use of Cayman’s marine turtles through this project, providing valuable knowledge to support their long-term conservation.
Joseph Roche Chaloner – Field lead
Joe has been with the Cayman Islands Department of Environment for over 10 years and is the Field Lead on our Darwin funded Sea turtle telemetry project. He is a core member of the team deploying satellite and acoustic tags to better understand the movements and habitat use Cayman’s marine turtles.
Joe holds a BSc in Wildlife Conservation from Liverpool John Moores University and an MSc in Managing the Marine Environment from Heriot-Watt University. His journey into marine turtle conservation began at 19 when he volunteered on a turtle conservation project in Costa Rica before starting university, a decision that set him on the path to a career in marine conservation and Cayman.
Outside of work, Joe spends as much time as possible in the ocean. Whether surfing, freediving or scuba diving, he’s happiest in the water, a passion that continues to inspire his commitment to protecting Cayman’s marine environment.
