With turtle nesting season just beginning in Anguilla, the Anguilla National Trust is seeking volunteers to assist with our sea turtle monitoring programme. We are requesting the help of dedicated individuals who are willing to “adopt a beach” by walking along it once a week during the morning hours, looking for signs of turtle nesting activity.
We are also asking for anyone who sees any sign of turtle nesting activity, including turtle tracks or pits in the sand, and/or adult turtles or hatchlings on the beach to report the activity to immediately contact the ANT by calling 235 5297. For adult or hatchling turtle sightings, individuals are asked to keep disturbances to a minimum until an ANT officer arrives. Reporting turtle activity allows the ANT and the Fisheries and Marine Resources Unit to collect important information about sea turtles and to support our on-going sea turtle research programme.
As most nesting events occur during the night, hoteliers and restaurant owners are also kindly being asked to remove chairs and other obstacles from the beach after dark. Ideally, beachfront 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.
Persons are also reminded that it is an offence to harm sea turtles in any way or to disturb their nests, with penalties for breaking this law being up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $50,000 for a first offence and $250,000 for any additional offences.
Individuals who are interested in taking part in the nesting beach monitoring programme are asked to contact the ANT by telephone at 235 5297, email at antadmin@anguillanet.com or to visit the ANT office located in North Side.
– Press Release
