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Until 1998, the Annual Symposia on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation have always been held in the south-eastern USA. However, a great deal of effort has been channelled into encouraging and assisting international participation and this has clearly benefited sea turtle conservation efforts world-wide. Over the years funds have been raised to support international travellers during the annual symposium auction as well as through donations by many institutions, foundations and individuals. Virtually all of us in the sea turtle conservation community have contributed to this effort in some way.

Travel Assistance for the 18th Symposium: The 1998 symposium travel committee helped a large number of turtle biologists and conservationists attend the 18th Symposium in Mazatlan, Mexico. Alberto Abreu, the Symposium president, Karen Eckert, the international travel chair for the past 'many' years, and the rest of the committee helped allocate more than $11,000 plus many free tickets and rooms to over 100 people from 18 nations. Jack Frazier's hard work led to efficient allocation of travel funds to those most in need and helped us to tap into a few new funding sources. The generous help of a number of NGOs supported several others. As always, the cumulative effort of many months of volunteer effort and donations by several organisations and individuals greatly increased the diversity in attendance at the Symposium. It is the aim of the travel committee for 1999 to increase the numbers of attendees from under-represented regions at the 19th Symposium in Padre Island, Texas.

In addition to the generous annual support of the Symposium many others made contributions to the travel expenses of foreign colleagues. The list is long, but these donors include: The Chelonia Institute, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, US Humane Society, WIDECAST/ Columbus Zoo, Wildlife Conservation Society, USAID (Nicaragua and Colombia), and PROARCAS (Guatemala). Moreover, organisations including the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, Earth Island Institute, IUCN and others supported travel of friends from abroad. In addition to an increase in travel funds we had strong support in the form of accommodations in Mexico from DIF-Mazatlan, El Cid, Marinelife Center of Juno Beach, FL and Ms. Lynn Jimenez (Montgomery, Ohio). Free and discounted airline tickets were offered by British Airways (UK), SAETA (Ecuador), SERVIVENSA (Venezuela), TACA (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Venezuela).

Travel Assistance for the 19th Symposium: Limited travel funds are available to assist international participants in their efforts to attend the Symposium in Padre Island, Texas, USA. Awards should not be expected to cover the full cost of travel. Priority will be given to those who will be presenting papers or posters, those who apply before the deadline and to individuals from relatively under-represented regions. If you are in need of assistance for travel to the 1999 Symposium in Padre Island, Texas, contact the relevant regional committee representatives before the 1st December 1998. It is requested that a copy of your abstract accompanies your application along with a letter indicating your affiliation and need for travel support. Candidates should have no hesitation in contacting their regional chair for letters of invitation or advice. Please use e-mail whenever possible.

Latin America and Caribbean: Wallace J. Nichols
Committee Chair, University of Arizona-Wildlife Ecology
Fax: +1 650 651 1579 (then press '5' to fax)
E-mail: jnichols@ag.arizona.edu

Asia and Pacific: Marydele Donnelly
IUCN, Marine Turtle Specialist Group
Fax: + 1 202 872 0619
E-mail: mdonnelly@cenmarine.com

Africa and Europe: Brendan Godley and Annette Broderick University of Wales Swansea
Fax: +44 1792 295447
E-mail: MTN@swan.ac.uk

Travel assistance for students from within the USA and Canada: A limited number of travel awards will be made available to students travelling from within the USA and Canada. Support will be limited to those students presenting papers (posters or talks). Candidates should contact:

Alan Bolten, Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, University of Florida
Fax: + 1 352 392 9166
Email: abb@zoo.ufl.edu