Sea Turtle Conservation Program
Introduction
Sea turtles are marine reptiles that have existed since their giant land turtle ancestors returned to the sea sometime during the Age of Dinosaurs. Eight species of sea turtles have managed to survive to modern times. Three of these extant species, the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) nest on the beaches of Broward County from April through September every year. The loggerhead is the most common sea turtle using the area for nesting; as a matter of fact, Florida, from the Space Coast to the Gold Coast, is the second most important nesting area in the world for loggerhead sea turtles.
Sea Turtles are Endangeredor Threatened Species
Sea turtle populations have been seriously reduced world-wide through a number of human influences. Over-developed coastal areas have reduced natural nesting habitats. Capture of adult turtles for eggs, meat, leather, and tortoise shell has decreased breeding populations. incidental capture of adults in fishing nets and shrimp trawls has brought one species, the Kemp's Ridley (Lepidochelys kempi), right to the brink of extinction. For these reasons all species of sea turtle are protected.
Sea turtles in Florida are protected through Florida Statutes, Chapter 370, and by the United States Endangered Species Act of 1973. Of those species that nest on Broward's beaches, green and leatherback sea turtles are listed officially as endangered and the Florida population of loggerhead sea turtles are considered threatened. Briefly, these laws state that: "No person may take, harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or attempt to engage in any such conduct to marine turtles, turtle nests, and/or turtle eggs." Any person who knowingly violates any provision of the act may be assessed civil penalties up to $25,000 or a criminal penalty up to $50,000 and up to one year imprisonment.
Sea Turtle Nesting Behavior
The nesting season in Broward County begins in early April each year with loggerheads first and then greens in May and June. Leatherbacks are less predictable and can nest as early as February or March. Nesting continues through the end of August and early September, with the peak season for loggerheads being the end of June and the beginning of July. With very rare exceptions, the nests are deposited at night.
If undisturbed, the females leave the water and crawl up the beach to a point well above the high tide line. There, using her rear flippers, she digs an egg chamber cavity about 8 inches in diameter and about 18 inches deep. After resting briefly, she then fills the hole with about 100 (sometimes more) golfball-sized eggs, gently covers the eggs with sand and then spreads sand over a wide area with her front flippers to obscure the exact location of the chamber. She then leaves the nest site and reenters the water.
Since adult sea turtles do not nurture their hatchlings, the female never sees the nest site again. A single female may nest several times during a season and then not nest again for one or two years. Sometimes, (about 45% of the time), the female exits the water, crawls the beach for long distances and reenters the water without digging a nest. These are called "false crawls" and usually occur because the turtle was disturbed or it could not find a "good" nest site. The crawl tracks left on the beach are always made by female sea turtles and they resemble marks left by a tractor tire. Male sea turtles never leave the ocean.
Hatchling Sea Turtles
Here in Broward County the eggs that are deposited in the chambers are either left to incubate naturally or are moved, either into a fenced hatchery or to a safer area of the beach. Because of the extent of the development on our beaches and associated bright lights from condos, streets, and highway traffic, most of the nests in Broward County are moved to a safer beach area where hatchlings can exit the nest and traverse the beach to the water on their own. Nests that are not moved are those that are already on safe beaches.
Incubation of the nests takes about 50-55 days. After this period, the hatchlings emerge from the nest en masse and, using various environmental and inherited cues, quickly migrate to the water's edge. If artificial lights are lighting the beach, the hatchlings will be disoriented, travel in the wrong direction, and possibly never make it to the water.
Once in the water the hatchlings swim directly out to sea, facing a perilous struggle to survive to adulthood. The best scientific estimates available indicate that only one in 1,000 to 10,000 hatchlings will survive (anywhere from 12 - 50 years) to become a reproducing and nesting adult sea turtle.
The maximum age of adult turtles is unknown, but some have been kept in captivity longer that fifty years.
How Can the Public Help?
Without the support of the general public, the survival of sea turtles on our planet is doubtful. Here are some ways that the concerned and interested citizen can help the cause:
As much as possible, refrain from walking on the beach at night during the summer months (April through August). No matter how quiet, humans will often, and unknowingly, frighten nesting sea turtles back into the sea.
Never keep sea turtles in aquariums. They may survive, but without the proper permits, this is a violation of the law.
Keep bright lights from shining onto the beach. If you have security or safety lights near the beach, build shades around the light so the beach is not directly illuminated. Hatchlings will be disoriented by bright lights.
If you see someone harassing a sea turtle or poaching a nest, call the local police or the Florida Marine patrol.
Do not dispose of plastic bags in the ocean. Plastic bags in the ocean very closely resemble a favorite food of sea turtles (jellyfish) and will cause death or illness to the turtle that eats them.
Stay clear of marked sea turtle nests on the beach. DISTURBING A SEA TURTLE NEST IS A VIOLATION OF STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS.
What to do if you see a Turtle
If you observe an adult sea turtle or hatchling sea turtles on the beach, please adhere to the following rules and guidelines:
It is normal for sea turtles to be crawling on the beach on summer nights. DO NOT report normal crawling or nesting (digging or laying eggs) activity on the published SEA TURTLE HOTLINE unless the animal is in a dangerous situation (on a road, in a parking lot, etc.) or has wandered well off the beach.
Stay away from crawling or nesting sea turtles. Although the urge to observe closely will be great, please resist the urge. Nesting is a critical stage in the sea turtle's life cycle. Please leave them undisturbed.
DO REPORT all stranded (dead, injured, or apparently healthy) turtles to the SEA TURTLE HOTLINE. Report all turtles that have not moved for 30 minutes or longer.
Never handle hatchling sea turtles. If you observe hatchlings wandering away from the ocean or on the beach, call the SEA TURTLE HOTLINE immediately.
SEA TURTLE HOTLINE: (954) 328-0580
QuickReference Illustrations
    
1. Kemp's Ridley 2. Hawksbill 3. Loggerhead 4. Green 5. Leatherback
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