Sea turtle populations will continue to decline without your support and assistance. The following are some ways you can help save our sea turtles:
- Avoid visiting sea turtle nesting beaches at night during the summer unless accompanied by a guide permitted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
- Do not disturb or handle sea turtles, their eggs or their nests. All are violations of both federal and state laws.
- Report all dead, injured or stranded turtles and hatchlings or anyone harassing/molesting sea turtles or their nests to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Law Enforcement at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
- Prevent all lights from illuminating or being visible from the beach including security lights, balcony and porch lights, flashlights and car headlights. These lights are responsible for the deaths of thousands of hatchlings every year and can be eliminated or modified easily to avoid impacts.
- Encourage beachfront resorts, restaurants and developments to use unobtrusive lighting.
- Reduce litter and marine debris by disposing of your trash properly, picking up any plastics and fishing line, and participating in community beach clean-ups.
- Prevent pets from disturbing nesting females, digging up nests, and eating hatchlings.
- Do not drive any motor vehicles on the beach.
- Avoid digging deep holes or sticking poles into the sand, such as beach umbrellas.
- Cooperate with local groups monitoring sea turtles by not disturbing nest markers. Do not cover sea turtle tracks or mark nests yourself unless you have a marine turtle permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
- Operate your boat with an awareness that sea turtles congregate in our waters in high numbers, particularly in the summer, and may be difficult to see when they surface to breathe.
- Support local conservation groups that monitor sea turtles.
- Learn more: A compilation of over 500 sea turtle websites [External Link] is available online.
- Purchase a sea turtle license plate. Proceeds from the sale of sea turtle license plates support the Sea Turtle Grants Program. [External Link]
If you are heading for the beach at night to observe nesting sea turtles, it is advisable to go with an authorized guide. Guided sea turtle walks are available from May to July. Participants are able to view a nesting sea turtle with a trained guide permitted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Individuals are encouraged to participate in these walks which provide the viewers with additional information and are conducted under strict guidelines to reduce disturbance to sea turtles.
Group walks are available in various part of Palm Beach and adjacent counties or statewide [External Link].
Coastal