Times of the Islands Fall 2018

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
Marine turtles have been swimming our oceans for at
least 110 million years, but now man’s activities threaten
turtle populations all over the world.
All species of turtle are susceptible to accidental capture
in fishing gear. Turtles become entangled in gill nets
and fish traps set inshore close to the nesting beaches.
Throughout their range, marine turtles are still hunted for
their eggs, meat and shells. For example, marine turtles
are still legally harvested for their meat in four of the five
UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean, where green
and hawksbill turtles are particularly targeted. It is not
known if these harvests are sustainable, but marine turtle
nesting populations in these territories are critically low.
In the tropics, wherever turtles lay their eggs there is
a demand for them. In several Caribbean countries, raw
turtle eggs are mixed with alcohol and drunk as an aphrodisiac.
In many parts of the world, hawksbill turtles are
targeted for the scales on their shells, which are used to
make tortoiseshell. International trade in wild turtle products
is banned by all the countries that have signed up
to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES).
Marine turtles depend on a variety of habitats at sea,
as well as the all-important nesting beaches. Sadly, these
same beaches are under pressure from development,
especially from the tourism industry. If beach development
is carried out insensitively it can lead to erosion
of sand from the beach, as well as the disturbance of
nesting female turtles through increased activity and light
pollution. The same light pollution disorientates emerging
hatchlings, making them head inland to artificial light
sources rather than out to sea.
Predicted sea-level rise resulting from climate change
will lead to the inland movement of beaches, a process
known as coastal squeeze. Vital turtle nesting habitat
could be lost if nesting beaches are prevented from
moving inland by any development or beach armouring
behind them.
Marine habitat can also be disturbed or destroyed by
development and other human activities. For example,
sea grass beds and coral reefs are particularly vulnerable
to degradation if exposed to sewage effluent discharged
into the sea, and can also be damaged by heavy boat traffic
and extensive use by bathers, snorkelers and divers.
Turtles can also be killed by entanglement in and
ingestion of marine litter, such as discarded fishing gear,
From top: Oliver Dames gives children the opportunity to interact
with a wild sea turtle.
Turtles are carefully measured and inspected to collect data and
tagged, if necessary.
SURFside Ocean Academy’s Morgan Luker (at left) allows guests to
have a close-up look at a sea turtle before it is released.
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