Oct. 26, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kate Gooderham, (239) 489-2616 or exdir@asbpa.org

Watching out for turtles
This nesting season, oil adds to the coastal challenges facing sea turtles heading back to the beach.

We are nearing the end of sea turtle nesting season in the continental United States, and every year folks ask the same question: “How’d we do?” Every year, the answers are mixed -- but given the once-perilous status of some turtle species and the low survival rate for hatchlings, these annual results are crucial for the turtles' overall survival.

This year's nesting season had an added component along parts of the Gulf coast -- oil on the beach and in the water. To move hatchlings out of the path of floating oil and ongoing containment efforts, thousands of sea turtle eggs from nests along the Louisiana/Florida/Texas Gulf coasts were transferred to the east coast of Florida to hatch. Since sea turtles like to return to where they were hatched to lay their own eggs, we’ll have to see what impact this move has on larger migration and nesting patterns. Because sea turtles mature slowly, we won’t see that impact for decades.

Nesting success varies for a number of reasons, one of which is predators. Raccoons are not just trouble for humans, they are fond of turtle eggs. Another fan of turtle eggs is more surprising – ants.

Frequency of nesting tends to run on a two-year cycle – one good year, followed by one not-so-good one. Weather and temperature have an impact. An area may have many nests, but not many hatch because high waves destroy the nest or drown the eggs.
Placing sand on the beach through beach nourishment can help restore nesting habitat for sea turtles. A wide sandy beach can provide a safer place for nests, especially where there once was no beach or even seawalls.

It is also important to put in place safeguards during and after the beach restoration process which can limit any project's negative effect on turtles.

• The sand placed on the beach needs to be similar in grain size, color and chemical composition to what exists naturally, to create a compatible habitat for nesting. The sand also needs to be loose enough to make digging a nest possible, but solid enough to protect the eggs once they're laid.
• Obviously, any project construction has to be scheduled around nesting season and steps taken to protect swimming turtles from danger during dredging activity. Similarly, many coastal areas have volunteer groups who will count, mark and protect nests in hopes of boosting the hatchling survival rate.
• Whether on a natural or restored beach, adjacent coastal lighting must be limited during crucial nesting periods. Sea turtle hatchlings are guided to the sea by light, since the horizon is naturally lighter than the rest of the sky. Human lighting can confuse the sea turtles and lead them onto roads and other deadly places. That is why you’ll see signs in beach areas that say: “Lights off for turtles.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering new rules to protect loggerhead sea turtles. ASBPA was one of the organizations that commented on the proposed plans, urging the agency to use the best science available in making their decisions. That way, sea turtles can be appropriately protected and managed so they can sustainably co-exist with humans along the country's coasts.

For more information about beaches, go to www.asbpa.org.
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ABOUT ASBPA: Founded in 1926, the ASBPA promotes the integration of science, policies and actions that maintain, protect and enhance the coasts of America. For more information on ASBPA, go to www.asbpa.org, facebook or www.twitter.com/asbpa.