Page 8 - Jupiter West - September '19

Page 8, Jupiter West
Loggerhead Marinelife Center Breaks All-Time

Sea Turtle Nest Count Record

As of Tuesday, Aug. 6, Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s
(LMC) research biologists recorded an all-time record-
breaking sea turtle nest count of 19,580 nests (and counting).
The center’s last record-breaking nesting season was recorded
in 2017 with a total of 19,085 nests. Sea turtle nesting season
in Palm Beach County runs from March 1 to Oct. 31 annually.
Although the center has experienced record-breaking nesting
numbers in previous years, other years have shown a lower
yield. For comparison, the 2018 nesting season resulted in a
total of just over 11,900 sea turtles nests. With three months left • If you come across a nesting sea
of nesting season, our researchers expect the nesting numbers turtle, observe at a distance from behind.
to continue to increase by a few more thousand nests. LMC’s • Look out for disoriented hatchlings
research biologists will continue to mark and monitor sea turtle on trails and roads near the beach.
nests until the end of nesting season, which ends on Oct. 31. • Keep your lights out near the
LMC biologists estimate that over 1,367,489 sea turtle beach and install sea turtle-friendly
hatchlings have been produced from nests laid thus far on our lighting where needed.
beaches. With four full-time members of the research staff, • Bring weak or disoriented hatchlings
seven seasonal morning technicians, two night technicians, to Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
five morning interns and one night intern, LMC’s research Hatchlings can be placed in a bucket
staff members are able to monitor a 9.5-mile stretch of with damp sand, no water, for transport. They can be placed turtle research, rehabilitation and educational institution
beach in Palm Beach County. This specific stretch of beach in the 24-hour drop-off cooler located outside the center’s that promotes conservation of ocean ecosystems with
is one of the most densely nested sea turtle nesting beaches entrance (14200 U.S. Highway One, Juno Beach, FL 33408). a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. The
in the world. LMC, a nonprofit sea turtle hospital, research, Don’t: center features an on-site hospital, research laboratory,
education and ocean conservation institution is located in • Interact with or disrupt a nesting sea turtle. educational exhibits and aquariums, and also operates
Juno Beach. • Release balloons (deflated ones resemble jellyfish, the Juno Beach Pier, which hosts world-class angling and
Director of Research, Dr. Justin Perrault commented a common prey item for sea turtles). sightseeing. Situated on one of the world’s most important
on the success of LMC’s research efforts and the record- • Use lighting on the beach at night including sea turtle nesting beaches, Loggerhead Marinelife Center
breaking nest count, “This news is quite exciting, especially flashlights, lanterns, flash photography and cell phones. is open daily and hosts over 350,000 guests free-of-
since season is nowhere near over, and we are still expecting • Touch hatchlings on their way to the ocean. charge each year. The center’s conservation team works
a few thousand more nests this season. The recent rise in • Take or touch empty egg shells, or exposed, with 90 local and international organizations across six
sea turtle nest counts are worth celebrating and are likely unhatched eggs. continents to form partnerships and share conservation
due to protection measures, enacted several decades ago. • Harm or harass sea turtles, their nests or hatchlings. initiatives and best practices that are core to its mission
We have to remind ourselves that there is still much work to • Use shovels to dig on the beach during nesting season. of ocean conservation. The center is expanding and
be done to combat existing threats to sea turtles, including It is illegal to harm or harass sea turtles, their nests or has launched its Waves of Progress capital expansion
reducing plastic pollution, assessing habitat loss, and hatchlings, which are protected by the U.S. Endangered campaign, designed to accelerate and amplify LMC’s
improving water quality.” Species Act of 1973 and Florida Statute Chapter 370. conservation and education impact. When complete, the
While nesting numbers are at an all-time high this year, For more information about sea turtle nesting, visit facility will offer one of the world’s most advanced and
it’s vital to remember that sea turtles continue to face threats, marinelife.org/nesting or marinelife.org/research. unique experiences for guests and scientific partners.
namely plastic pollution. Currently, 100 percent of post- About Loggerhead Marinelife Center For more information, visit marinelife.org or call (561)
hatchlings who are admitted to The Sea Turtle Hospital at Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is a nonprofit sea 627-8280.
LMC have ingested plastic. In addition to plastic pollution,
sea turtles are faced with threats of record heat temperatures.
The record heat may skew sea turtle hatchlings’ gender to
female, thus reducing the number of males.
How To Help:
To help LMC celebrate the record breaking sea turtle
nesting season:
• Blue Friends Society Beach Cleanup: Join LMC staff
and volunteers on Aug. 17 at 8:30 a.m. on the center’s
back deck for our monthly Blue Friends Society Beach
Cleanup where you can help reduce debris on one of the
world’s most important sea turtle nesting beaches.
• Adopt a nest: To celebrate this year’s record nesting
season people are encouraged to adopt a sea turtle nest.
For more information on this program please visit: https://
marinelife.org/help/adopt/.
Additionally, please remember to practice sea turtle-
safe protocol when visiting our local Florida beaches
during nesting and hatching season.
Do:
• Throw away debris left behind on the beach.
• Fill in holes in the sand, knock down sand castles and
remove foreign objects that may obstruct a sea turtle’s
path to and from the ocean.
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