Mike Salisbury, UR - Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

My last few posts were a bit depressing, so I want to look for the silver lining this week; or at least talk about something that isn't killing sea turtles.

Click here to view this week’s article

This week’s article discusses the Sea Turtle Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for Volusia County. This plan, which is currently in effect, balances beach driving and protecting sea turtles, piping plovers, other coastal wildlife and their habitat.

Here is a link to the Habitat Conservation Plan

A few of the county’s efforts to protect coastal wildlife mentioned are as follows:

• natural beach management areas and conservation zones that are off limits to public vehicles 
• no driving on the beach at night
• during nesting season, beaches are not open to public driving until they have been inspected by specially trained and permitted sea turtle monitoring teams
• a volunteer group called “Washback Watchers” search for and rescue hatchlings that have been washed ashore by storms or tides

Photo showing post and signage used to mark eastern boundary of the Conservation Zone, Volusia County Beaches.

All of these are great! I had no idea our beaches are inspected during nesting season before they are opened to public driving.

The article also mentions the Marine Science Center (MSC); this is one of my favorite places in Ponce Inlet. Among other things, the MSC rehabilitates sick and injured turtles, and return them to the wild once they are healthy. If you haven’t been, the MSC is an interesting place to visit.

Turtle rehab at the MSC

Heading back to sea after rehabilitation at the MSC

Overall, it is great to see Volusia County making progress towards sea turtle preservation.  I’m learning a lot about sea turtles and beach driving this semester. Although it may seem like an uphill battle, we are taking steps in the right direction.

                                                                                                                                                                   

Comments from last week:

Deb 'n Paul

I was recently introduced to an article about the fact that baby sea turtles (still buried/unhatched) actually 'talk' to each other. Researchers think this might be why baby sea turtles seem to hatch all at the same time, increasing chances of survival from predators. So it got me to thinking--if they need to be able to hear each other--how does our presence/activities on the beach impact their hatching activities--or does it? Could this be yet one more threat source?

I think you might have found another threat source! I did some research on this and found quite a bit of information on this.

Here is a link to one of the articles

This article mentions motor boats as a disruption, but there are plenty of other sources of noise pollution near the nests (vehicles, drunken tourists, radios, etc.). This definitely seems like another threat to sea turtles.  

Angela Boney

You mention people consume turtles and use parts of it. Does that happen here in the USA or mainly other parts of the world?

The consumption of sea turtles (eggs and meat) occurs in coastal communities around the world, especially in Central America and Asia. It might occasionally occur in the USA but the numbers are much lower when compared to other countries.