Introduction to Sea Turtles:
"Sea turtles are air-breathing reptiles remarkably adapted to life in the sea. A streamlined shape, large size and powerful foreflippers enable them to dive to great depths and travel long distances. Although at home in the ocean, sea turtles are tied to the land because females must leave the water to lay their eggs in a sandy beach. Much of the research on sea turtles has focused on nesting females and hatchlings emerging from nests because these are the easiest to find and study. Thousands of nesting turtles have been tagged to gather information about their reproductive cycles and movements. In recent years research efforts have broadened, and new technologies such as satellite tracking have been used to learn more about sea turtles during other phases of their lives. After decades of research, much has been learned -- and many questions remain.
Sea turtles once roamed the oceans by the millions, but over the past few centuries the demand for sea turtle meat, eggs, shell, leather and oil has greatly reduced their number. Populations continue to decline because of the trade in sea turtle products and the loss of essential habitat. Thousands of sea turtles drown in shrimp trawls every year and others die from pollutants and non-degradable debris in the ocean. Concern for the plight of sea turtles is growing and around the world, conservationists, governmental agencies, public and private organizations, corporations and individuals are working to protect sea turtles on nesting beaches and at sea" - from Florida's Sea Turtles, Copyright 1992, Florida Power & Light Company.
Palm Beach County's beaches are unique. We have a large population of people living on and using beaches that are critically important for sea turtle nesting in the United States. Every day, thousands of people play on beaches which are a nursery for hundreds of thousands of sea turtle eggs during the summer months. Conflicts arise from our activities, including coastal development, that have a direct effect on the continued survival of sea turtles.
Sea turtles have been swimming the oceans for more than 100 million years and have been using our beaches, reefs and estuaries long before man settled in Florida. Sea turtle populations have declined, however, in recent years because of man's activities and they are now "endangered" and "threatened" species. This means that steps must be taken to stop their decline or they may become extinct. Those of us who live and play in Palm Beach County have a special opportunity and responsibility to protect these creatures and their vulnerable nesting and feeding grounds. A number of researchers, volunteer groups and agencies are at work monitoring nesting beaches and conducting research to learn more about sea turtles.
Loggerhead turtles lay the vast majority of nests in the county, with the green turtles and leatherback turtles accounting for the remainder of the nests. Two other species also can be found in our off-shore waters, the hawksbill and the very rare Kemp's ridley. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the leatherback, green, hawksbill and Kemp's ridley sea turtles as "endangered" species, and the loggerhead sea turtle as a "threatened" species.
Coastal Resources