EDITORIAL

ANDREA D. PHILLOTT

Asian University for Women, Chittagong, Bangladesh

iotn.editors@gmail.com

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An eager reader of Kachhapa and the Indian Ocean Turtle Newsletter since I was a postgraduate student, it was an honour to receive Kartik and Chloe’s invitation to join IOTN. As a university lecturer assisting the next generation of biologists in countries bordering the Indian Ocean, IOTN illustrates for me the challenges and rewards facing those who work for the conservation of sea turtles and their habitats, and the coastal communities for whom natural resources are so important. I hope to help IOTN continue to grow as an important source of information for sea turtle biologists and conservationists in this region.

The previous editors have set an impressive standard for me to match, with the assistance of our experienced editorial and advisory board. My first editorial duties would not have been successful without the generous assistance of Seema Shenoy, who contributed greatly to the production of this issue of IOTN and the design of our new website. My sincere thanks also to Karen Arthur and Amrita Tripathy, who helped with the transition between editors. In the next issue I will introduce a new co-editor for IOTN, and several new members of the editorial board and country representatives on the advisory board.

IOTN will continue to disseminate regionally-specific studies and management strategies that will aid NGOs, community groups, university researchers and students, fisher associations, government departments and agencies, and other individuals interested in sea turtles and their habitats in the Indian Ocean and South Asia. We hope that you will continue to provide suggestions (and content) for future issues.