BRADENTON BEACH – The official start to sea turtle nesting season kicked off at Coquina Beach on May 1.
Named Suzi Fox Day, in tribute to the late executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, Turtle Watch volunteers handed out educational materials to raise awareness of turtle-friendly actions.
“This is the kickoff for the season, it’s a celebration for the volunteers, it’s a celebration of Suzi Fox and her legacy of educating people and also to try to get information out to people,” Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristin Mazzarella said. “We’re trying to educate people and we’re also trying to get property managers here to come and pick up additional outreach materials, so they have them to give out to their visitors.”
Turtle Watch volunteers educate attendees about sea turtles at Suzi Fox Day on May 1 at Coquina Beach. – Leslie Lake | Sun
Handouts included brochures outlining turtle safety tips and PAR 20 light bulbs.
“They’re amber LED light bulbs so that we can get lights out on the beach,” Mazzarella said. “It’s really important this year because the lighting is going to be worse with the dunes gone (following last year’s hurricane flooding).”
Some tips included the following:
Make it Dark – Turn off outside lights and close blinds to keep the Island and beach dark. If you need lights, there are options for wildlife-friendly lighting available at the FWC website: https://myfwc.com/wildlifeh…/wildlife/sea-turtle/lighting/
Make it Flat – Fill in holes and knock down sandcastles to make it easier for turtles to navigate the beach.
Make it Clean – If you take it to the beach, take it with you when you leave. Do not leave items on the beach overnight, including beach chairs, umbrellas and beach toys.
A nesting sea turtle is scheduled to be released on Monday, June 23 at 8 a.m. at Coquina Beach. The exact location will be announced on the Turtle Watch Facebook page that morning.
BRADENTON BEACH – To the delight of hundreds of spectators at Coquina Beach this morning for a publicized turtle release, loggerhead sea turtle Henrietta stopped several times as she made her way down the sand toward the water.
Once she hit the Gulf of Mexico, cheers erupted among onlookers as she took off swimming.
Commenting on the turtle’s slow walk to the water, one spectator said, “She’s tired because she just had babies.”
Henrietta was chosen for the release after having laid a nest on the beach on Saturday night.
The turtle release was sponsored by the Sea Turtle Conservancy, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and Hurricane Hanks.
Henrietta’s name (the female version of Henry) was chosen by Hurricane Hank’s owner, Brian Mathae.
She was outfitted with a satellite monitor and will be tracked by the Sea Turtle Conservancy in the annual Tour de Turtles race. Scheduled to begin on Aug. 1, Tour de Turtles will track individual sea turtles for approximately three months as they leave their respective nesting beaches and race to complete a “marathon.”
The competitors will swim with the goal of being the turtle to swim the furthest distance during the migration marathon.
“Research into the behavior and life cycle of marine turtles has taught us that these creatures do not generally nest and feed in the same area. We now know that sea turtles are highly migratory, often traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles between the beaches where they lay their eggs and the foraging (feeding) grounds where they spend much of their time at sea,” according to the Tour de Turtles website. “Since most research conducted on marine turtles has been carried out on nesting beaches and well over 90% of a sea turtle’s life is spent in the water, feeding, mating, migrating and doing whatever else a sea turtle does when no one is watching, we are missing important information that can help us better protect sea turtles.”
The results of the Tour de Turtles race will be posted at: https://tourdeturtles.org/
The Sun will be monitoring Henrietta’s progress and her results will be posted weekly on The Sun Facebook page.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Sea Turtle Conservancy plans to release a satellite-tagged loggerhead sea turtle after it nests on Anna Maria Island as part of the annual Tour de Turtles event.
The release is scheduled on Monday, June 24 at 8:30 a.m. with a backup date of Tuesday, June 25, depending on when a turtle nests. The location will be announced on the morning of the release on the Sea Turtle Conservancy Facebook page and its website at https://conserveturtles.org/.
Attendees are encouraged to come early to see the nesting turtle and talk to the turtle team. In previous years, the release has taken place on Coquina Beach.
The Conservancy is partnering with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and Hurricane Hanks for the release.
The Tour de Turtles follows the migration of sea turtles from their nesting beaches to their foraging grounds from the time of their release until the end of October, the end of turtle nesting season.
The launch of the Tour de Turtles corresponds with World Sea Turtle Day on June 16, the birthdate of Conservancy founder Dr. Archie Carr.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Volunteers with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring have found and marked the first loggerhead sea turtle nest of the season on the Island.
“We are excited to start the nesting season on Anna Maria Island and look forward to a productive season protecting nests and educating the public,” Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella said in a statement.
Under a directive from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Turtle Watch volunteers began patrolling local beaches on April 15, although the official start of sea turtle nesting season is May 1.
Beginning early in the morning, volunteers monitor beaches daily for sea turtle activity.
Turtle Watch breaks down nesting data into three geographical sections. The first is from the Longboat Key Bridge north to Manatee Beach, the second is from Manatee Beach north to Bean Point, and the third covers bayside beaches.
Turtle Watch reminds residents and visitors of the following dos and don’ts:
DO:
• Shield or turn off outdoor lights that are visible on the beach and close drapes after dark;
• Remove all beach furniture and toys from the beach at night;
• Fill in holes and knock down sandcastles that may impede hatchlings on their way to the water;
• Place trash in its proper place;
• Keep your distance from posted nest sites;
• If you encounter a nesting turtle, remain quiet and observe from a distance;
• Call AMITW at 941-301-8434 or FWC at 888-404-3922 if you find a turtle (adult or hatchling) in distress; and
• Notify local law enforcement if you see anyone disturbing a turtle, hatchlings or nest site.
DO NOT:
• Use flashlights, cellphones, flash photography or fishing lamps on the beach;
• Encourage a turtle to move while nesting or pick up hatchlings that have emerged;
• Use fireworks on the beach; or
• Approach nesting turtles or emerging hatchlings, make noise, or shine lights at turtles.
For more information on ways to help protect sea turtles, visit islandturtlewatch.com.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – On a daily patrol last week, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers were shocked and saddened to find multiple turtle nests that had been trampled on and run over with vehicles.
On its Facebook page, Turtle Watch posted photos of tire tracks and footprints through multiple nests with marker stakes broken and on the ground.
Vehicles are illegal on the beaches of Anna Maria Island.
“We’d like to remind everyone that tampering with, disturbing or harassing any nest, adult or hatchling sea turtle is a federal offense punishable by a fine and/or jail time,” Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella said.
Disturbances to nests have the potential to impact their success, she said.
“We don’t know if any of the eggs were broken,” Mazzarella said. “We’ll find that out later in the season.”
Turtle Watch volunteers spent the morning of July 11 reposting nest stakes and documenting disturbances to at least four nests in undisclosed locations in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach.
This is the second time in a week that Turtle Watch volunteers found damaged nests, although Mazzarella said the prior incidents were likely not malicious and due to carelessness.
Mazzarella said multiple issues with nests following the Fourth of July holiday included people knocking over stakes, tearing marker tape, walking across nests, digging in the sand close to nests and putting up tents in nesting areas.
Turtle nests on local beaches are clearly marked with yellow numbered stakes and pink caution tape.
Turtle nesting season runs from May through October.
“I’d like to remind people, if you see something, say something,” Mazzarella said.
Report wildlife violations to the FWC. If your information results in an arrest or citation, you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. You can report four ways:
• “FWC Wildlife Alert” app (download from Google Play or Apple Store)
• Text 847411 (Tip411) with the keyword “FWC” and information about the violation
• Call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922)
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers begin checking the beaches this week for early sea turtle nesting activity, its new executive director, Kristen Mazzarella, takes over the watch from the late Suzi Fox.
“I envision following in Suzi’s legacy and to keep it going how it has been with the great community involvement,” Mazzarella said. “My goal is to keep the community educated, engaged and involved.”
Kristen Mazzarella will take over leadership duties at Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring. – Submitted
Mazzarella has an extensive background with both turtles and shorebirds. She was a senior biologist at Mote Marine Laboratory for 15 years. She was on turtle patrol for 25 years in North and South Carolina and also worked with the Audubon Society for 15 years.
“The group of volunteers (with Turtle Watch) has been very welcoming,” she said. “Manatee County has been amazing; they clearly care a lot about the environment.”
Mazzarella said one of the Turtle Watch board members contacted her during their search for an executive director to see if she was interested in the position.
“I knew Suzi and I had worked with her on various projects,” she said. “I feel that this organization is so important because it’s a conservation program where both the community and the municipalities are very involved.”
There is a core group of 20-25 volunteers who have undergone training with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to conduct nesting beach surveys, but Mazzarella said volunteers are always needed and welcome.
During the nesting beach surveys, which run from mid-April to the end of October, volunteers patrol every day, keeping an eye on each nest until it has hatched, Mazzarella said.
“That training is done for this year, but certainly volunteers are needed to help with outreach and our adopt-a-nest program,” she said.
Fox’s legacy
Fox began as a volunteer for Turtle Watch in the 1990s. In 1996, she became the FWC’s turtle permit holder for the Island, adding nesting shorebird monitoring and protection to her duties.
She eventually took leadership of Turtle Watch as executive director and under her directorship, the organization grew.
May 1 is Suzi Fox Day in Bradenton Beach in honor of Turtle Watch’s late executive director. – Sun File Photo
“In three decades, we monitored 7,339 turtle activities, protected 4,454 nests, 301,694 turtle eggs, and watched 271,680 hatchlings depart to become a future generation of loggerheads that will return to the region as they reach maturity,” according to the Turtle Watch website.
Last season, local loggerhead sea turtles broke two records.
The number of hatched nests reached 453 in September, edging out the 2018 record of 447, and a record 35,850 hatchlings exceeded the prior record of 35,788 set in 2018.
The first official day of turtle nesting season on Anna Maria Island, May 1, will be proclaimed “Suzi Fox Day” in the city of Bradenton Beach.
At the Jan. 5 Bradenton Beach City Commission meeting, the proclamation was issued to honor Fox, who served as the organization’s executive director until her death on Sept. 30, 2022.
The proclamation states in part, “Suzi Fox led the organization and its league of volunteers for sea turtle protection to include protection for critical shorebirds.”
The proclamation credits Fox with reaching out to and educating the public about sea turtle and shorebird habitat.
“Suzi’s actions have led Anna Maria Island to expand on ecotourism opportunities and on further educating the public and future generations about our sea turtle and shorebirds habitat and the crucial role we play in ensuring their existence in the future.”
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Sea turtle hatchlings have broken the Anna Maria Island record set by the 2018 crop of local loggerheads, with 35,850 hatchlings so far this year.
The number, recorded last weekend by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, exceeds the previous record of 35,788 hatchlings that made it to the Gulf of Mexico from the Island’s beaches in 2018, and there are more to come.
“It will continue to grow as there are nests to still hatch,” Turtle Watch volunteer Barbara Riskay said.
Turtle Watch breaks down nesting data into three geographical sections. The first, from the Longboat Key Bridge north to Manatee Beach, has had 17,167 hatchlings so far this year. The second, from Manatee Beach north to Bean Point, has had 17,805 hatchlings so far. The third, covering bayside beaches, has had 878 hatchlings so far this year.
The last time turtles set a record on AMI was in 2019, when turtle moms laid a record number of nests – 544. This year’s nesting tally is approaching that record, at 531 nests.
Turtle Watch also counts nests that were not laid, known as false crawls, identified by tracks left by nesting mothers that did not dig nests.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Plenty of little flipper tracks are on the beach and lots more are on the way as the first loggerhead sea turtle nests of the season begin to hatch.
At least 21 nests have hatched this month, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring (AMITW) volunteers.
“After a nest hatches, we must wait for three days and then we excavate to collect data, which is sent to FWC (the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission),” AMITW’s Barbara Riskay said. “The first nest excavated on July 10 resulted in 74 hatched eggs.”
As of July 16, 10 nests have been excavated, showing that 809 hatchlings have made it to the Gulf of Mexico, she said. While this is a substantial number, it is necessary for female turtles to lay plenty of eggs because only about one in 1,000 turtle hatchlings will make it to adulthood.
While more than 1,050 nests have been laid on the Island so far this season, turtle season continues until Oct. 31, so there will be thousands more hatchlings to come.
The most common turtle to nest on the Island is the loggerhead. Named for its massive, block-like head, the loggerhead is Florida’s most common sea turtle. Adults weigh 275 pounds on average with a shell about a yard long. The shell, ruddy brown on top and creamy yellow underneath, is very broad near the head and tapers toward the tail. Each of the turtle’s flippers has two claws.
According to the FWC, the main threat that loggerhead turtles face is accidental capture in shrimp and fishing nets such as longlines, which can entangle or snag sea turtles, and finfish trawls, beach seines, drift and gill nets. When captured in these nets, the turtles cannot escape and eventually drown.
The development of nesting beaches is also a threat to sea turtles, as their nests can be destroyed, and available nesting sites are limited. Beach armoring, such as building seawalls, is a threat, as the structures prevent the natural maintenance of beaches and sand dunes.
Coastal development also increases artificial lighting which can be detrimental to hatchlings, causing them to migrate toward the artificial light instead of the natural light they use to find the ocean.
Increased predation on nests from raccoons is also a significant threat to nesting sea turtles.
Other threats include exploitation for meat and eggs in some countries, habitat degradation from contaminants and pollutants and boat strikes.
ANNA MARIA – Five months after an apparent collision with a boat left him with multiple injuries, a rehabilitated green sea turtle nicknamed “Pierre” by Mote Aquarium staff was released back into the wild on July 5.
Pierre had been found on Jan. 31 floating on the water’s surface near the Anna Maria City Pier. He had suffered multiple fractures and a large piece of his carapace – or upper shell – was damaged, but there was no neurologic damage.
“Veterinary Surgery Center of Sarasota was kind enough to do a CT scan for us to determine the extent of the trauma,” Mote Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital Aquarist Weston Spoon said.
Pierre had numerous fibropapilloma tumors, which were surgically removed. After a second surgery to remove a tumor on his eye in May, he continued to gain weight and eat well.
Following his successful recovery, workers from the facility released Pierre into the waters off Bayfront Park, a short distance from where he had been found.
“He was found stranded near the City Pier, so it’s best to release them near where they’re stranded,” Spoon said, adding that Pierre is expected to acclimate easily back into his watery environment.
“Studies have been done that show they will go about their lives just as before,” Spoon said.
Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital has admitted more than 650 sick and injured sea turtles since 1995.
“We aim to help all our turtle patients return to the wild and contribute to their populations for years to come,” according to the Mote website. “This matters greatly: All sea turtle species are threatened or endangered.”
While it was difficult to determine Pierre’s age, Spoon said he was a juvenile less than 10 years old. Green sea turtles have a life expectancy of up to 80 years, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They are far less common in the waters off Anna Maria Island than loggerheads, but both nest on area beaches from May through October.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Just in time for Mother’s Day, sea turtles that hatched on the Island have begun returning to lay their own nests.
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring (AMITW) identified and marked six turtle nests in the first week of nesting season, which began May 1 and runs through Oct. 31.
These nests are just the beginning; hundreds more are expected this year, which will result in tens of thousands of hatchlings. The record for nests was 544 in 2019, and 2018 saw a record 35,788 hatchlings. However, the majority of the hatchlings will not survive to maturity, primarily due to predators. To maximize their chances of survival, the best thing to do is eliminate obstacles created by humans.
Hatchling turtles are born with an immediate instinct to crawl directly to the water. Obstacles such as beach chairs, trash or deep holes they cannot crawl out of lower their odds of survival. Light from flashlights or camera flashes can disorient both nesting and hatching sea turtles, leading them away from the water, as can light from beachfront buildings.
Five species of sea turtles swim and feed around Anna Maria Island, the most common being the loggerhead, according to Turtle Watch, and all are an integral part of the local ecosystem.
Turtle Tips
During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, follow these tips to help turtles:
Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water.
Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night.
Remove all beach chairs and other objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings.
Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water.
Deconstruct sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can block hatchlings from the water.
Don’t use balloons, wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf, and turtles can ingest the debris.
Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights.
Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has released the new 2021-22 manatee and sea turtle decals.
This year’s themes are “Go slow – Look out below!” to encourage safe boating around manatees, and “Protect Florida Sea Turtles,” depicting a leatherback sea turtle swimming among jellyfish.
The waterproof stickers are a fun way to support research, rescue and management efforts that conserve the protected species and spread awareness about the challenges they face.
The decals are available for a $5 donation online at MyFWC.com/Manatee and MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle, or when registering or re-registering a vehicle or boat at local tax collector’s offices across the state. You can also order past editions of decals.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Just in time for the May 1 start of sea turtle nesting season off AMI, Bortie may be coming home to nest.
The female loggerhead sea turtle was satellite-tagged and released from Coquina Beach in June 2018 after she nested; her nest successfully hatched two months later.
Bortie was satellite-tagged and released from Coquina Beach in June 2018 and may be headed back this way to nest. – Cindy Lane | Sun
Bortie competed in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 11th Annual Tour de Turtles, placing 10th out of 13 contestants at the end of the race on Oct. 31, the last day of the 2018 turtle nesting season.
She traveled 351 miles during the race, lingering off Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys, while the winner, Bion, was busy swimming 1,674 miles from Cocoa Beach up to north Florida, then down to the Bahamas. Since her release three years ago, Bortie has logged 3,836 miles, according to the Conservancy.
The annual event is part of the Conservancy’s research project tracking satellite-tagged turtles to determine where and how far they migrate.
Bortie was named for Bortell’s, an Anna Maria restaurant and bar under renovation, and one of her several sponsors.
Another sponsor was Anna Maria Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, and Director Suzi Fox was happy to hear the news.
Turtle Tips
During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, please follow these tips:
– Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water.
– Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night.
– Remove all objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and can disorient hatchlings.
– Fill in the holes you dig in the sand and level sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can obstruct or trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water.
– Don’t use wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf.
– Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights.
– Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
“These tags are important. I know they’re expensive, but the information that you get from them is priceless,” she said.
“I’m a little nervous because of the Piney Point discharge,” Fox said, referring to the 215 million gallon emergency discharge of wastewater from one of the closed phosphate plant’s gyp stacks this month. “I hope she stays south of that. These poor nesting mothers have enough to worry about.”
Gearing up for turtle season
Local boat captains are reporting loggerhead sightings off the northern tip of Anna Maria Island, a sure sign nesting season is about to commence, Fox said.
“They’re out there,” she said. “They’re probably waiting for the sand to get a little bit warmer.”
Last year was a good turtle nesting year on Anna Maria Island, with 349 nests laid (the record is 544 in 2019) and 20,237 hatchlings hatched (the record is 35,788 in 2018).
The coronavirus pandemic has curtailed the triple-digit Turtle Watch volunteer ranks down to 16 people, who now monitor beaches on ATVs instead of on foot to promote social distancing, she said, adding that Turtle Talks and public nest excavations will be canceled again this season due to COVID-19.
“We’re waiting until next year when more people are vaccinated,” she said.
Masks with a turtle design are available at Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce and will be included in gift packages for people participating in the organization’s Adopt-a-Nest program. Visit Turtle Watch for more information.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – A sea turtle trapped in a hole on the beach is lucky that Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers are so diligent at their jobs.
Director Suzi Fox and volunteer Skip Coyne found turtle tracks along the shore last week with footprints next to the tracks stretching for a quarter-mile, indicating that someone had followed the turtle, keeping her from going back into the water.
Holes dug on the beach can entrap nesting and hatching sea turtles. – Mark Taylor | Sun
At the end of the trail was a hole someone had dug on the beach – with the turtle four feet down at the bottom of it.
Her breathing was labored, according to Fox, who has asked beachgoers for years to fill in holes they make in the sand, remove furniture from the beach at sunset and avoid flash photography of turtles.
Coyne began digging a ramp in the sand, and a visiting beachgoer, Kevin Breheny, of Decatur, Illinois, stopped to help him.
“That turtle was totally unphased by them doing it. She was understanding that this was her way out,” Fox said in a video produced for Turtle Watch by local musician Mike Sales.
“She turned towards us and she could sense that or see it,” Coyne said.
“This turtle looked up and looked at us like – there’s hope,” Breheny said.
The 300-pound turtle began to climb the ramp as they dug it, getting some help from the men to pull her out.
“It took a leap forward on its two front fins,” Breheny said. “I couldn’t believe the strength this turtle had… The next thing we know, off to the ocean it was going.”
The story could have taken a darker turn had any of the season’s first hatchlings fallen into the hole after emerging from their nests last week.
https://amisun.com/2020/07/05/nesting-news-2/
Fox has an urgent message for beachgoers.
“Do not walk with a turtle on the beach at night. She’s tender. She’s pregnant. She needs to do her business and get back out to sea,” she said. “And when you dig a hole, fill the hole back in.”
Because the turtle was disturbed by whoever followed her, she did not nest before falling into the hole, according to Fox, who added that the holes are not only dangerous to turtles, but to Turtle Watch volunteers and beachgoers.
“Even if it wasn’t your hole, fill the hole back in,” Fox said.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – World Sea Turtle Day is Tuesday, June 16, and you can celebrate with the Sea Turtle Conservancy on the birthday of its founder, Dr. Archie Carr.
Carr is remembered as the father of sea turtle biology and the conservation movement that engendered groups like Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, which works with the Sea Turtle Conservancy each year to satellite tag a turtle on local beaches and follow her travels.
Sea turtles have been nesting on beaches since the time of dinosaurs, about 110 million years, and have remained mostly unchanged. They contribute to the well-being of sea life and the environment in many ways. For example, green sea turtles, which nest on Anna Maria Island, eat seagrass; like regular grass, seagrass needs to be kept short to ensure it’s healthy and continues to grow along the ocean floor and provide a place for the breeding and development of many species of fish. Leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles help keep the populations of jellyfish and sponges in check.
Here’s how you can celebrate sea turtles on Tuesday and every day of the year:
Turn off your lights. If you live in or are vacationing in a beachfront residence, turn your beach-facing lights off or close your blinds or curtains. Lights cause nesting and hatchling turtles to wander. Owners, install sea turtle-friendly lighting to help mothers and hatchlings go in the right direction.
Clean up the beach. Remove any trash from the beach that might hinder a turtle’s nesting. Also, knock down sandcastles and fill in holes so that the ground is flat and there is nothing in the way of hatchlings when they’re making their way to the Gulf of Mexico.
Plastic that ends up in the ocean gets eaten by turtles because they believe the plastic is jellyfish. Over 100 million marine animals are killed each year due to plastic debris, so buy and use products that decrease the use of plastic.
