It is always a pleasure for me to participate to the International Sea Turtle Symposium every year. Not only it is a great opportunity to increase my knowledge about sea turtles but also an occasion to meet up with other turtlers like me, most of which have become friends and enjoy each other's company.

This year, the symposium took place in the beautiful city of New Orleans, Louisiana in the United States from the 10th and the 17th of April. The theme of this Symposium was "Cultures," in honour of all the cultures that have interacted and continue to interact today with sea turtle populations around the world.
New Orleans represent this melting pot of culture having benefited from various influences and is today a very cosmopolitan city.

Sea Turtle Rehab & Health Workshop

This year a two day rehabilitation workshop was organised. It was divided into two parts: one whole day with presentations and one morning dedicates to practical work. Every year it seems like more time is dedicated to the rehabilitation of sea turtles and more people join in.

I would like to thanks Daniela Freggi and Terry Norton for giving us this opportunity to learn and share this knowledge. Experiences professionals gave presentation on different topics such as husbandry, critical care and emergency medicine, oil spill, anaesthesia and surgery amongst other topics. Free flowing discussion was encouraged making it easy to participate.

On the second day and sea turtle rehabilitation and health lab took place. We were transfers to the Audibon Nature Institute to join a hands on workshop. Half of us followed a training regarding necropsy techniques, surgical approaches, anatomy and pathology.

The other half followed presentation on blood sampling and analysis. These were very clear and easy to follow. After that we learned how to make blood smears and understand them under a microscope.
Due to organisation conflicts, I was not able to take part in the regional meetings. Many people were absent in the Mediterranean meeting. I guess we will have a better gathering in Turkey next year.

The first day our president, President Roldán A. Valverde gave the opening remarks showing the importance of culture in turtle conservation.

Jack Frazier one of his guest dolled with an inspiring talked names: Cultures of turtles, Turtles of cultures.

I met with many people that have interacted and still interact with ARCHELON. I would like to acknowledge them.

Dr Alan Rees have be voted in the Boards of Directors of the International Sea turtle Society. Congratulations !

Other have contributed to this symposium :

UNTANGLING FISHERMEN –TURTLE RELATIONSHIPS: PERCEPTIONS OF SEA TURTLE INTERACTIONS WITH SMALL‐SCALE FISHERIES IN CRETE, GREECE
Aliki Panagopoulou, Zoë A. Meletis, Dimitris Margaritoulis, Pavlos Tsaros, and James R. Spotila
Aliki got an award for a prestigious Archie Carr Student Award for her conservation oral presentation.

THREATS TO CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN KYPARISSIA BAY, GREECE ‐ ONE OF THE LAST PRISTINE NESTING BEACHES FOR LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Theresa M. Stewart, Panagiota Theodorou, and Dimitrios Dimopoulos

POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON LOGGERHEAD TURTLES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Samir H. Patel, Aliki Panagopoulou, Stephen J. Morreale, Vincent S. Saba, Dimitris Margaritoulis, and James R. Spotila

REVEALING THE MIGRATORY BEHAVIOUR OF NESTING LEATHERBACK AND LOGGERHEAD TURTLES FROM SOUTH AFRICA USING SATELLITE TELEMETRY AND STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS
Nathan J. Robinson, Stephen J. Morreale, Santosh Batchoo, Deon Kotze, Steven McCue, Mike Meyer, Ronel Nel, Herman Oosthuizen, and Frank V. Paladino

HIGH TEMPERATURES DURING INCUBATION REDUCE PRODUCTION OF FEMALE HATCHLINGS IN THE LEATHERBACK TURTLE (DERMOCHELYS CORIACEA)
Pilar Santidrian Tomillo, Daniel Oro, Frank V. Paladino, and James R. Spotila

This year a special presentation called DEEP WIDSOM FROM EPIC FAILURES was presented by Wallace J. Nichols

This two hour interactive, evening session at the 2014 ISTS looked into what important lessons have been learned by some of marine turtle conservation's most notable champions when they share stories of their epic failures.

Presenters will share experiences from their careers that haven't been heard in public before, followed by a discussion of the wisdom and insight they've uncovered.
It's rare for researchers to publicly discuss "failure" at these symposia. But we have much to learn by doing so.

I found it very interesting bringing famous turtlers and starting conservationists. It gave me a great sense of family making us a strong family.

The Student Committee Workshop was also very interesting. Named "From science to conservation policies: taking research to the real world", it was connecting scientific research to the real world, showing how science is applied on the field to improve conservation strategies.

We could not be in New Orleans without taking part in a parade. After the usual Social event we gathered behind a local brass band in the lobby before taking in to the street. Our parade went around the French quarter celebrating all our cultures mixing together.

No symposium would be complete without the Live Auction. This evening is necessary to raise money to help the organisation of next year's meeting in Turkey.

I wish all the best to Yakup Kaska, our new President for next year Symposium ! Our Mediterranean conference will take place also next year in Turkey !

Pavlos Tsaros