Page 5 - Southern Exposure - September '19
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Southern Exposure, Page 5
LoGGerhead NeWs from page 4
Loggerhead Marinelife Center Breaks
All-Time Sea Turtle Nest Count Record
As of Tuesday, Aug. 6, Loggerhead Marinelife much work to be done Do:
Center’s (LMC) research biologists recorded an all-time to combat existing • Throw away
record-breaking sea turtle nest count of 19,580 nests threats to sea turtles, debris left behind
(and counting). The center’s last record-breaking nesting including reducing on the beach.
season was recorded in 2017 with a total of 19,085 nests. plastic pollution, • Fill in holes
Sea turtle nesting season in Palm Beach County runs assessing habitat loss, in the sand, knock
from March 1 to Oct. 31 annually. Although the center and improving water down sand castles
has experienced record-breaking nesting numbers in quality.” and remove
previous years, other years have shown a lower yield. For While nesting foreign objects
comparison, the 2018 nesting season resulted in a total numbers are at an all- that may obstruct
of just over 11,900 sea turtles nests. With three months time high this year, a sea turtle’s path to and from the ocean.
left of nesting season, our researchers expect the nesting it’s vital to remember that sea turtles continue to face • If you come across a nesting sea turtle, observe at a
numbers to continue to increase by a few more thousand threats, namely plastic pollution. Currently, 100 percent distance from behind.
nests. LMC’s research biologists will continue to mark and of post-hatchlings who are admitted to The Sea Turtle • Look out for disoriented hatchlings on trails and roads
monitor sea turtle nests until the end of nesting season, Hospital at LMC have ingested plastic. In addition to near the beach.
which ends on Oct. 31. plastic pollution, sea turtles are faced with threats of • Keep your lights out near the beach and install sea
LMC biologists estimate that over 1,367,489 sea turtle record heat temperatures. The record heat may skew sea turtle-friendly lighting where needed.
hatchlings have been produced from nests laid thus far on turtle hatchlings’ gender to female, thus reducing the • Bring weak or disoriented hatchlings to Loggerhead
our beaches. With four full-time members of the research number of males. Marinelife Center. Hatchlings can be placed in a bucket
staff, seven seasonal morning technicians, two night How To Help: with damp sand, no water, for transport. They can be
technicians, five morning interns and one night intern, To help LMC celebrate the record breaking sea turtle placed in the 24-hour drop-off cooler located outside the
LMC’s research staff members are able to monitor a 9.5- nesting season: center’s entrance (14200 U.S. Highway One, Juno Beach,
mile stretch of beach in Palm Beach County. This specific • Blue Friends Society Beach Cleanup: Join LMC staff FL 33408).
stretch of beach is one of the most densely nested sea and volunteers on Aug. 17 at 8:30 a.m. on the center’s Don’t:
turtle nesting beaches in the world. LMC, a nonprofit sea back deck for our monthly Blue Friends Society Beach • Interact with or disrupt a nesting sea turtle.
turtle hospital, research, education and ocean conservation Cleanup where you can help reduce debris on one of the • Release balloons (deflated ones resemble jellyfish,
institution is located in Juno Beach. world’s most important sea turtle nesting beaches. a common prey item for sea turtles).
Director of Research, Dr. Justin Perrault commented • Adopt a nest: To celebrate this year’s record nesting • Use lighting on the beach at night including
on the success of LMC’s research efforts and the record- season people are encouraged to adopt a sea turtle nest. flashlights, lanterns, flash photography and cell phones.
breaking nest count, “This news is quite exciting, For more information on this program please visit: https:// • Touch hatchlings on their way to the ocean.
especially since season is nowhere near over, and we are marinelife.org/help/adopt/. • Take or touch empty egg shells, or exposed, unhatched eggs.
still expecting a few thousand more nests this season. The Additionally, please remember to practice sea turtle- • Harm or harass sea turtles, their nests or hatchlings.
recent rise in sea turtle nest counts are worth celebrating safe protocol when visiting our local Florida beaches • Use shovels to dig on the beach during nesting season.
and are likely due to protection measures, enacted several during nesting and hatching season. It is illegal to harm or harass sea turtles, their nests or
decades ago. We have to remind ourselves that there is still hatchlings, which are protected by the U.S. Endangered
Species Act of 1973 and Florida Statute Chapter 370. For
more information about sea turtle nesting, visit marinelife.
org/nesting or marinelife.org/research.
About Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is a nonprofit sea
turtle research, rehabilitation and educational institution
that promotes conservation of ocean ecosystems with
a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. The
center features an on-site hospital, research laboratory,
educational exhibits and aquariums, and also operates
the Juno Beach Pier, which hosts world-class angling and
sightseeing. Situated on one of the world’s most important
sea turtle nesting beaches, Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Ask about our Rosh Hashanah is open daily and hosts over 350,000 guests free-of-
charge each year. The center’s conservation team works
with 90 local and international organizations across six
& Yom Kippur Holiday Menus. continents to form partnerships and share conservation
initiatives and best practices that are core to its mission
of ocean conservation. The center is expanding and
has launched its Waves of Progress capital expansion
campaign, designed to accelerate and amplify LMC’s
Tradition never conservation and education impact. When complete, the
facility will offer one of the world’s most advanced and
tasted so delicious. unique experiences for guests and scientific partners.
For more information, visit marinelife.org or call (561)
627-8280.
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See restaurant or our website for complete menu. )