Turtle nesting season has begun and the Anguilla National Trust’s Anguilla Sea Turtle Conservation Group (ASCG) is looking for volunteers to assist with its sea turtle beach monitoring programme. The ASCG is requesting the help of dedicated individuals who are willing to “adopt a beach” by walking along it during the morning hours, looking for signs of turtle nesting activity. The beaches should be walked/monitored once a week, from May through November. All data collected will feed into the National Trust’s sea turtle research programme.
Although turtles are known to nest throughout the year, peak activity occurs between August and October. During these months the Anguilla National Trust (ANT) puts a special focus on documenting any nesting or nest hatching activities throughout the island. All species of sea turtle are considered threatened or endangered and three of these species – Leatherback, Hawksbill, and Green – are known to nest on Anguilla’s beaches. While the ANT conducts weekly beach surveys at key locations to document activity, an important key role can be played by beach-goers that notice signs of activity.
As most nesting events occur during the night, hoteliers and restaurant owners are kindly being asked to remove chairs and other obstacles from the beach after dark. Ideally, beach-front lighting should also be kept to a minimum between 9pm and 5am as it disorients adults and hatchlings, often leading to their death through exhaustion or dehydration when they are unable to locate the sea.
If adult turtles are sighted during the day or night, residents and visitors are kindly asked to report any activity – nesting or hatching – to the ANT by calling 497-5297 or 584 2173. E-mails may be sent to axascg@gmail.com. People are asked to keep disturbances to a minimum until an ANT officer arrives. Persons are also reminded that it is an offence to harm sea turtles in any way or to disturb their nests.
Individuals who are interested in taking part in the programme are asked to contact Ms Janeczka Richardson, ASCG Coordinator, at 497 5297 or to visit the ANT office located in The Valley.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
