Page 10 - Waterways - September '19

Page 10, Waterways
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 For more information about sea turtle
left of nesting season, our researchers expect the nesting nesting, visit marinelife.org/nesting or
numbers to continue to increase by a few more thousand marinelife.org/research.
nests. LMC’s research biologists will continue to mark and About Loggerhead Marinelife Center
monitor sea turtle nests until the end of nesting season, which Loggerhead Marinelife Center
ends on Oct. 31. (LMC) is a nonprofit sea turtle research,
LMC biologists estimate that over 1,367,489 sea turtle rehabilitation and educational institution
hatchlings have been produced from nests laid thus far on our that promotes conservation of ocean
beaches. With four full-time members of the research staff, ecosystems with a focus on threatened
seven seasonal morning technicians, two night technicians, and endangered sea turtles. The center
five morning interns and one night intern, LMC’s research features an on-site hospital, research laboratory, educational and share conservation initiatives and best practices that
staff members are able to monitor a 9.5-mile stretch of exhibits and aquariums, and also operates the Juno Beach are core to its mission of ocean conservation. The center is
beach in Palm Beach County. This specific stretch of beach Pier, which hosts world-class angling and sightseeing. expanding and has launched its Waves of Progress capital
is one of the most densely nested sea turtle nesting beaches Situated on one of the world’s most important sea turtle nesting expansion campaign, designed to accelerate and amplify
in the world. LMC, a nonprofit sea turtle hospital, research, beaches, Loggerhead Marinelife Center is open daily and hosts LMC’s conservation and education impact. When complete,
education and ocean conservation institution is located in over 350,000 guests free-of-charge each year. The center’s the facility will offer one of the world’s most advanced and
Juno Beach. conservation team works with 90 local and international unique experiences for guests and scientific partners. For more
Director of Research, Dr. Justin Perrault commented on the organizations across six continents to form partnerships information, visit marinelife.org or call (561) 627-8280.
success of LMC’s research efforts and the record-breaking nest
count, “This news is quite exciting, especially since season is
nowhere near over, and we are still expecting a few thousand “Service is our number one priority”
more nests this season. The recent rise in sea turtle nest counts 561-743-0070
are worth celebrating and are likely due to protection measures,
enacted several decades ago. We have to remind ourselves that
there is still much work to be done to combat existing threats www.palmspoolservices.com
to sea turtles, including reducing plastic pollution, assessing
habitat loss, and improving water quality.”
While nesting numbers are at an all-time high this year,
it’s vital to remember that sea turtles continue to face threats,
namely plastic pollution. Currently, 100 percent of post-
hatchlings who are admitted to The Sea Turtle Hospital at
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 Expires 9/30/19.
and volunteers on Aug. 17 at 8:30 a.m. on the center’s back
deck for our monthly Blue Friends Society Beach Cleanup State Licensed & Insured
where you can help reduce debris on one of the world’s most Serving Palm Beach County CPC # 1457468 • LPG#30099
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/. CAMPBELL AND KARLIK, P.A.
Additionally, please remember to practice sea turtle-safe
protocol when visiting our local Florida beaches during ATTORNEYS AT LAW
nesting and hatching season.
Do:
• Throw away debris left behind on the beach.
• Fill in holes in the sand, knock down sand castles and Wills • Trusts • Estate Planning • Probate
remove foreign objects that may obstruct a sea turtle’s path
to and from the ocean. Taxation • Real Estate • Corporations
• If you come across a nesting sea turtle, observe at a
distance from behind.
• Look out for disoriented hatchlings on trails and roads
near the beach.
• Keep your lights out near the beach and install sea turtle-
friendly lighting where needed.
• Bring weak or disoriented hatchlings to Loggerhead
Marinelife Center. Hatchlings can be placed in a bucket with
damp sand, no water, for transport. They can be placed in the
24-hour drop-off cooler located outside the center’s entrance
(14200 U.S. Highway One, Juno Beach, FL 33408).
Don’t:
• Interact with or disrupt a nesting sea turtle.
• Release balloons (deflated ones resemble jellyfish, a
common prey item for sea turtles).
• Use lighting on the beach at night including flashlights,
lanterns, flash photography and cell phones.
• Touch hatchlings on their way to the ocean. Diane L. KarLiK
• Take or touch empty egg shells, or exposed, unhatched
eggs.
• Harm or harass sea turtles, their nests or hatchlings.
• Use shovels to dig on the beach during nesting season. Tel: (561) 625-5220
It is illegal to harm or harass sea turtles, their nests or 3450 Northlake Boulevard Suite 210 Fax: (561) 625-5201• Mobile: (561) 797-5004
hatchlings, which are protected by the U.S. Endangered Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33403 EMail: dlkarlik@aol.com
Species Act of 1973 and Florida Statute Chapter 370.