The rise in the number of turtle nests in Florida is becoming apparent as current reports suggest possible record-breaking levels.
Decades of hard work exerted by conservationists on the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva are coming to fruition. Efforts to conserve turtle nests are being made by residents of St. Lucie County. A huge flock of activists will also head to the Greater Fort Lauderdale area to continue a big turtle conservation operation.
The number of sea turtle nests in Sanibel is currently 407, still a little behind last year's record of 411, but if the trend continues, that record may be broken this year. In Captiva, the current number of nests is 106, which is slowly inching toward year 2000's record of 179.
"About 20 to 30 years ago, the conservation efforts began to help the sea turtle population and now, the hatchlings from that time are becoming of age to reproduce," said Kelly Sloan, sea turtle program coordinator from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF). It is a positive sign considering the effects are expected to be realized long after the initiation of the project since turtles live long, she added.
On the beaches of St. Lucie County, there is a rampant issue involving the appearance of endangered and threatened sea turtle hatchlings at night during the course of the summer. With this, the residents are reminded to follow practices that are intended to keep the large number of hatchlings safe and protected throughout the season.
The nesting season in St. Lucie County started on Mar. 1 and will last until Nov. 15. Recommendations imparted to residents include limiting activities of pets, prohibiting the digging of sea turtle nests, restricting the disturbance of the nests and providing a clear way for the turtles to access the ocean.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will continue its Operation Jairo in the southeastern part of Florida, Greater Fort Lauderdale, which is the operation's third location. Operation Jairo is the society's 2015 Sea Turtle Defense Campaign. The members will roam around the beaches every night starting July 15 to Sept. 30.
They will be aided by the Sea Turtle Oversight Protection (S.T.O.P.), a local non-profit organization. Together, the two groups will look for nests, and rescue and release new hatchlings to the ocean. They will also make sure that local ordinances are efficiently implemented and that sources of lights on the shore are minimized according to the recommendations of authorities.
Photo: Per-Olof Forsberg | Flickr
