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Mid-Atlantic Sea Turtles:
Possible Causes for Declines in Population
and Potential Mitigation Strategies
Francesca Fusaro
Emily Knaus
Barbara Madden
Background
Five species of sea turtles have been recorded in the
Mid-Atlantic region including1:
Hawksbill
(eretmochelys
imbricata)
Green
(chelonia
mydas)
Kemp’s ridley
(lepidochelys
kempii)
Loggerhead
(caretta
caretta)
Leatherback
(dermochelys
coriacea)
Significance of Sea Turtles
Sea Turtle Impacts on Ecosystem
Marine Ecosystem
Beach/Dune Ecosystem
The Problem
Habitat alteration and degradation has
led to a decrease in sea turtle
populations in the mid-Atlantic region.
Report by the Florida FWC*
*Godfrey, D., LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE NESTING IN STEEP DECLINE. http://www.worldwire.com/news/0611090001.html
Proximate Causes
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Beach Habitat Alteration
Strong storms
Increase of the sea level
Pollution
Artificial lights
Commercial Fishing
Other Beach Alterations
Egg predation
Modification of the oceanic currents
Increase sand temperature
Ultimate Causes
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Urbanization
Suburbanization
Increased recreational use of coastlines
Unmanaged pesticide and trash disposal
Long line fishing
Major Cause
• Increased recreational use of coastlines
Options
• Reduce lighting within the range of the beach.
• Designate critical habitat as turtle nesting only.
• Place more trash cans on beach.
• Remove lounge chairs from beach at night and
reduce lighting.
• Use beach signs to promote public awareness.
Evaluation Criteria
• Maintain recreational use of beaches.
• Increase in turtle population from current
levels.
• Preserve critical habitat.
• Remove significant barriers to nesting.
• Costs should not outweigh benefits.
Criteria
Options
Reduce
Designate
lighting within critical habitat
the range of
as turtle
the beach
nesting only
Maintain
recreational
use of
beaches
Increase in
turtle
population
from current
levels
Preserve
critical habitat
Remove
significant
barriers to
nesting
Costs should
not outweigh
benefits
Place more
trash cans
Remove lounge
chairs from the
beach at night
& reduce
lighting
Use beach
signs to
promote
public
awareness
Best Option
Remove Lounge Chairs from Beach at Night
Beach Furniture - Hatchling under Chair*
* Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) http://research.myfwc.com/gallery/image_details.asp?id=11595
Remove Lounge Chairs
from Beach at Night*
• Plastic lounge chairs are portable and can
easily be removed from the beach area at
night.
• Heavy wooden lounge chairs should be
removed completely during the nesting
season, or at least spaced apart 6 feet from
side-to-side.
*FWC - The Hazards of Beach Furniture to Turtle Nesting
http://floridamarine.org/features/view_article.asp?id=16708
Best Options
Reduce Lighting
Lights on Beachfront Property that are Visible from the Beach*
* FWC - http://floridamarine.org/features/view_article.asp?id=2156
Reduce Lighting*
• Any reduction in the amount of artificial
light reaching the nesting beach helps sea
turtles.
• As lighting is reduced, hatchlings
emerging on moonlit nights and at
locations far from the lighted property will
have a better chance of finding the sea.
* Artificial Lighting and Sea Turtle Hatchling Behavior - FWC
http://floridamarine.org/features/view_article.asp?id=2156
Sources
1. Meylan, A. Long-Term Monitoring Program Reveals a Continuing Loggerhead Decline, Increases in Green
Turtle and Leatherback Nesting. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee