For the last week, I have been staying at my family’s home in Marco Island, Florida. My parents have been coming here yearly since the late 80s, and I have been visiting my entire life. Recently they took the plunge and became residents! This beautiful tiny island has 6 miles of (in my opinion) the most beautiful beaches in the country. Each May-August the beaches receive around 80 very special visitors, Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta)! Ever since I was a little girl I have been fascinated by these beautiful relics. Today I visited the area of the beach where they nest, and my interest was reborn! I believe it is so important that we protect these creatures so I am writing this post to raise some awareness about them. Even if you live hundreds of miles away, there is still plenty you can do in your everyday life to ensure the turtles will be around for generations to come.
So, who are the Loggerhead Sea Turtles?
At an average weight of between 155-375 lbs, these turtles mainly inhabit warm coastal waters in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They love to eat shellfish such as crabs, clams, mussels, and other invertebrates. Their powerful jaws help them easily crush the shellfish (that sounds like a diet I could get behind, I love seafood). Every 2-4 years the turtles return to the place they were born to build a nest and lay their eggs. The mother turtles swim for hundreds of miles to return to their birthplace. It is believed that they use the Earth’s magnetic field to help guide them, as each shoreline has its own unique magnetic signature that the turtles can use as a guide. Each mama turtle makes around 3-6 nests with about 100-130 eggs per nest. That seems like a lot of eggs! So why is the Loggerhead Sea Turtle population still steadily decreasing?
It is estimated that only 1 in 1000 sea turtle hatchlings will survive to reproductive maturity. There are of course natural factors such as predation and illness, but not surprisingly most of the causes are because of humans. We are literally the worst! The biggest threat is the loss of nesting habitat due to coastal development and other human disturbances like coastal lighting from hotels and houses. The lights cause disorientation during the emergence of the hatchlings, who use the moonlight to help guide them to the water. Other major threats include incidental capture in longline fishing, shrimp trawling, and pollution.
When I was about 7 years old, I witnessed something that actually made me sick, and is an image I will never get out of my brain. While playing on the beach one day, I saw some teenaged boys stomping on and smashing the nests! I was so disturbed by this but didn’t know what to do! I of course was angry and very upset, and definitely cried over it, but I was just a little girl so what could I do? From that day on I made a promise to myself that I would do anything in my power to save the turtles. It seems in recent years there is much more patrolling of the nesting area, and local residents seem to come together to ensure that mean spirited/ ignorant tourists leave the areas alone. The nests themselves also seem to be much better marked.
What Steps has Marco Island taken to protect the Loggerheads, and what can you do if you are visiting the island?
1. Do not use bright lights on the beach at night. The beaches close at sundown, but if you are near the beach and can see your shadow, your light is too bright. If you are staying in a hotel or condo on the beach, close your curtains at night so the turtles don’t become disoriented by the light. Do not use flash photography on or near the beaches at night.
2. Keep the beaches clean, please! This should just go without saying, pick up your trash! There are strict no glass on the beach laws here, and it appears that the resorts have stopped using plastic straws as I have seen less and less of them littering the beach in recent years. It also seems that the beaches here are always relatively clean of trash and debris, lets keep it that way.
3. Report dead or injured turtles!
City of Marco Island
(239) 389-5000 (Weekdays)
(239) 793-9300 (Weekdays/Evenings)
Collier County Natural Resources Department
(239) 732-2505 (Weekends)
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Sea Turtle Stranding Network: 1-888-404-FWCC (3922)
4. Be respectful. Whether you live here year-round or are on vacation, we are visitors in their habitat. These turtles have been using the beaches here for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Leave the nesting sites alone, and stay away from the turtles if you see them. They are not a photo opportunity. They are beautiful living creatures who just want to give birth in peace. (I must note all the photos I took of the nesting sites are suupppeerrr zoomed in, and I would not walk into the natural area for a photo because you don’t need to. Just stand in front of it because there might be nests that are unmarked/unknown.)
I live really far from the ocean and never plan to visit Marco Island. What can I do to help?
1. Stop using plastic straws. Just stop. There is no reason for it when there are plenty of alternatives. (Here is a link to some great ones on Amazon )
2. Recycle, recycle, recycle! Less waste means less of a chance it ends up on a beach or in the ocean.
3. Use a reusable water bottle, and stop buying plastic bottles. Plus this will encourage you to drink more water!
4. Reduce the amount of chemicals you use. No matter where you live the chemicals you use in your home and on your yard will eventually wash into the sea. My favorite brand for affordable environmentally friendly products is Seventh Generation (I usually find the products at Target).
5. Donate to conservation groups. You can find a complete list on the website listed below:
6. If you are fortunate enough to live near a beach, participate in a community beach clean up project. Or just go out on the beach and pick up trash! I always try to leave the beach with not only my trash but any other trash I find.
The truth is, the Loggerhead sea turtle population dramatically decreases every year. Because of the migratory nature of these animals, researchers say that long-term international cooperation is essential for their survival. That means all of us, no matter where we live, must do our part. When it comes to sustainability, no one is perfect. All that matters is that we are doing something, even if it is as small as using a refillable water bottle every day. We owe it to these animals and our planet to try and do better. I want to be able to bring my children to this island one day and show them the turtle nests, clean beaches, and clear sparkling blue water. I want this for all future generations, and the change must start with us, we can do it!
Additional Resources and References:
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