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Sea Turtle Conservation Program
    
1. Kemp's Ridley 2. Hawksbill 3. Loggerhead 4. Green 5. Leatherback
Introduction
| Sea turtles are marine reptiles that have existed since the Age of Dinosaurs. Of the seven species of sea turtles worldwide, three of these, the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) nest regularly 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. |
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Sea Turtles are Endangered or 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 while 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 is also a significant factor contributing to sea turtle mortality. For these reasons all species of sea turtles are protected.
Sea turtles in Florida are protected through Florida Statutes, Chapter 370, and by the United States Endangered Species Act of 1973. Of the 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 is 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 $100,000 and up to one year imprisonment.
Sea Turtle Nesting Behavior
| The nesting season in Broward County begins in early March each year with leatherbacks, followed by loggerheads in April, 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 September, with the peak season for loggerheads being the end of June and the beginning of July. If undisturbed, the females leave the water at night and crawl up the beach where they dig an egg chamber cavity. |
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After resting briefly, they then deposit approximately 100 golf-ball size eggs, gently cover the eggs with sand and then they spread sand over a wide area to obscure the exact location of the chamber. They then leave the nest site and reenter 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. Approximately half of all emergences result in a female crawling on the beach for long distances and reentering 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 suitable 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
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Incubation of the nests takes about 45-55 days. Here in Broward County the eggs that are deposited in the chambers are either left to incubate naturally or are moved, (relocated) to a safer area of the beach. Some of the nests are relocated because of the extent of the development on our beaches and associated bright lights from condos, streets, and highway traffic. The relocation process serves to protect the emerging hatchlings so they 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.
After incubation, 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.
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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 hatchlings will survive (anywhere from 12-50 years) to become a reproductive adult sea turtle.
The maximum age of adult turtles is unknown, but some have been kept in captivity longer than 50 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:
Keep bright lights from shinning onto the beach. Beach lighting must be shaded or shielded or turned off at night from sunset to sunrise, March 1st to October 31st. Hatchlings are disoriented by bright lights.
As much as possible, refrain from walking on the beach at night during the nesting months (April through August). No matter how quiet, humans will often, and unknowingly, frighten nesting sea turtles back into the sea.
If you see someone harassing a sea turtle or poaching a nest, call the local police or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Law Enforcement Division. Call FWC at 1-888-404-FWCC.
Never keep sea turtles. This is a violation of State and Federal law.
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 serious illness to the turtle that eats them.
Stay clear of marked sea turtle nests on the beach.
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 EMERGENCY LINE 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 EMERGENCY LINE. 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 EMERGENCY LINE immediately.
SEA TURTLE EMERGENCY LINE: (954) 328-0580
To obtain a copy of the Sea Turtle Conservation Program 2007 Technical Report, please contact the Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department at (954) 519-1284.
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