InWater Research Group, Inc, a non-profit organization specializing in marine turtle conservation, will conduct the fifth sampling event of a study to assess sea turtle populations in the Lake Worth Lagoon (LWL) in Palm Beach County from March 20 to March 22, 2006. The study consists primarily of turtle captures by setting a 150-meter large-mesh tangle net. When a turtle encounters the net, they are quickly removed, measured, and a blood sample is taken; the turtle is then tagged and photographed before release. Sampling activities occur primarily in the vicinity of Little Munyon Island, in the northern portion of the LWL. This study and its methodologies have been approved by the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners and permitted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
To date, 23 sea turtles have been captured and 103 sea turtles have been sighted during four sampling events conducted since March 2005. In general, these are juvenile green sea turtles, approximately 45 cm in length, who are thought to utilize the LWL as developmental habitat for several years before migrating to feeding grounds in the Florida Keys. Unfortunately, 11 of the 22 captured greens have been afflicted with fibropapillomatosis (FP), a potentially deadly disease affecting green sea turtles in polluted estuarine waters, and three captured sea turtles have required transfer to a rehabilitation center for various boat or monofilament related injuries. As sea turtles function as an indicator species for environmental health, these results have important implications as to the condition of the Lake Worth Lagoon.
InWater Research Group has been conducting in-water sea turtle monitoring in Florida since 2001. Its officers have over 100 years of combined research experience working with marine turtles and have collectively captured and released over 7,000 animals during various research projects. They currently conduct similar research in the Key West National Wildlife Refuge, Hutchinson Island, and the Indian River Lagoon.
The study is funded in part by a grant awarded from the Sea Turtle Grants Program. The Sea Turtle Grants Program is funded from proceeds from the sale of the Florida Sea Turtle License Plate. Learn more at www.helpingseaturtles.org.
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