Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan for St. Kitts and Nevis - WIDECAST

CEP Technical Report No. 17
consuming and can be expensive. Most importantly, not much is learned about nesting dynamics
from tagging for a year or two. A long term research commitment is requisite to gain knowledge
beyond that obtained from daily nest counts. However, valuable insight on the international
movements of local sea turtles can be obtained from even short-term tagging.
Since it is neither practical nor necessary to monitor all the sandy beaches in St. Kitts/
Nevis, it is a recommendation of this Recovery Action Plan that Index Beaches be selected for
comprehensive study. An island-wide survey, as recommended in section 4.112, should be
conducted to identify with confidence which areas are most used by turtles. At least two beaches
with the most nesting activity on each island should be carefully protected from activity that will
compromise the suitability of the habitat to support sea turtle nesting. Data collected from these
will enable the Fisheries Division to evaluate the success of conservation and recovery measures
implemented on behalf of sea turtles. These beaches should be monitored for nest and hatch
success, by species, during the full breeding season (at least 1 April-30 November). The data
should be centrally compiled. Field workers should receive preparatory instruction prior to their
survey efforts (see section 4.55).
In section 4.12, we suggested that the Index Beaches be declared "Sea Turtle Refuges"
under the authority of the NCEPA. Since these beaches represent the most important nesting
areas for endangered sea turtles in St. Kitts/Nevis, it is vital to preserve them as focal points for
conservation, management, and monitoring. The Atlantic beach from Cayon River to Key Ghaut
(and perhaps south to Jack Tar Village), Sandy Point/Belle Tete (which supports three species of
nesting sea turtles), and Sand Bank Bay in St. Kitts are good candidates for Index Beach (and
Refuge) designation. In Nevis, Hurricane Hill Beach, privately owned, should be similarly
considered.
4.292 Hatchlings
Any successful management programme must be based upon credible estimates of
reproductive success. Thus, while nest counts are vital (see above), follow-up at the hatchling
stage is also important. Estimates of mortality, including losses due to erosion or high seas,
domestic or feral animals (dogs, pigs), natural predators (crabs, mongooses, birds) and poachers
should be obtained. Other threats should also be watched for and reported. These might include
entrapment in debris or tyre ruts, entanglement in beach vines, disorientation by artificial
lighting, and/or harassment by onlookers. Some information can be collected on an opportunistic
basis, such as disorientation, depredation, or the spilling of eggs from a bluff created during
a storm. In addition, it is useful if some nests are marked for study. It is not recommended that
the nest site per se be marked, but rather the distance from the nest site to two proximal objects,
such as trees or other landmarks, should be recorded so that the site can be precisely located by
triangulation at hatching two months later. Photographs taken in three directions while standing
over the nest are a useful reference.
Hatchlings can be expected after 55-75 days of incubation. Hatchling emergence at the
beach surface usually occurs at dusk. Predators, disorientation, and/or entanglement at the time
of emergence should be noted. If the emergence is missed, the hatch can be confirmed by the
presence of dozens of little tracks leading from the nest site to the sea. After a day or two has
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