Latest news with #CoastalConnections
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Yahoo
Florida sea turtle nesting season: Reckless people blamed for false crawls on Vero Beach
An increase in sea turtle nesting season false crawls on Treasure Coast beaches has one conservation group urging residents to stay off the beach at night, be more careful if you do go, and don't scare away the animals. About 70% of turtles' attempts to nest were thwarted on a half-mile stretch of Vero Beach between Sexton Plaza Beach and Humiston Beach Park since June 1, said Kendra Bergman, executive director of Coastal Connections, a Vero Beach-based sea turtle conservation group. That touristy strip of oceanfront hotels and restaurants has attracted about 60 people a night, with a peak of 108, Bergman told TCPalm. About a quarter of them used white flashlights and many interacted with turtles, "ultimately influencing the turtle to not nest and return to the ocean," Bergman said. "Although not every false crawl is caused by humans, the human-influenced false crawls are a major concern and completely preventable," Bergman said. Florida sea turtle nesting season Avoid the beach after dark from March through October. In Vero Beach, the public beach parks close at 10 p.m. If you insist on going at night, do not use a phone or flashlight because the white light scares nesting sea turtles. Human eyes will adjust to the dark, and the moon gives off enough natural light to stay safe. Join a guided turtle walk or daytime turtle dig to search for live hatchlings that didn't make it out of the nest and release them into the ocean. Always view wildlife from a distance. If you insist on going at night, give turtles lots of space so you can watch the entire nesting process without disturbing them. False crawls, light pollution, lack of rain, climate change Other false crawl culprits — some natural and some human-caused — include coastal light pollution, beach furniture and other obstructions, and holes left in the sand and some natural beach composition issues. In June and July, the sand can become dry when there's no rain, said Lauren Maline, a biologist with Ecological Associates. The private consultant based in Jensen Beach documented higher rates of false crawls during a two- to three-week period in mid-June and early-July, when there was an unusual lack of rain, Maline said. "Extremely dry sand can inhibit the ability of our sea turtles to properly dig their egg chambers," Maline said. "During times of decreased rain, we often see more abandoned nesting attempts, where the turtles have sometimes started the nesting process, but then abandoned due to less-than-ideal conditions. " Recent rain "helped a lot in reducing the number of false crawls we are seeing each day," Maline said in mid-July. Loggerhead sea turtle nests For loggerhead sea turtles, it is not unusual for the false crawl rate to exceed 50% or even average 60% as it did on the Treasure Coast in 2024, Maline said. The percentage of successful crawls above the high tide line that result in nests averages 40-50%, and in 2024, it was: 37% in Indian River County 41% in Martin County 42% in St. Lucie County So far this year, it's been: 44.1% in Indian River County 49.1% in Martin County 53% in St. Lucie County "Data actually shows that as a whole, we are at a higher nesting success than last season," Maline said. "It is still early in the nesting season, so these numbers will change and this data only accounts for one species of the three that nest on our beaches." The other two are greens and leatherbacks. Loggerhead, green, leatherback turtle nesting numbers Loggerhead sea turtles have laid this many nests so far this year: 1,305 in Martin County 3,865 in Indian River County 3,930 in St. Lucie County Green sea turtles have laid this many nests so far this year: 64 in Martin County 243 St. Lucie County 666 in Indian River County Leatherback sea turtles have laid this many nests so far this year: 75 in Indian River County 218 in Martin County 245 in St. Lucie County What is the nesting behavior of a sea turtle? Sea turtles, which are on the federal endangered species list, live most of their lives in the ocean, but adult females lay their eggs on land. They often return to the same beach where they were born. They migrate hundreds to thousands of miles between feeding grounds and nesting beaches every year. Leatherbacks are among the most highly migratory animals on earth, traveling as many as 10,000 miles or more each year, according to NOAA Fisheries. The temperature of the sand determines the hatchlings' sex. Nests that are 81.86 degrees produce males while 88.8 degrees produces females, according to NOAA. Fluctuating temperatures will produce a mix. Gopher tortoises: Relocations spike amid development boom, but Florida running out of room Florida coral reef: Will fishing council let rock shrimp nets drag the rare Oculina Bank? Loss and degradation of nesting and foraging habitats due to coastal development, pollution and climate change are among the most significant threats to sea turtles around the world. Others include: Vessel strikes Entanglement in marine debris Bycatch from commercial and recreational fishing In some areas, killing and eating turtles and their eggs. Tim O'Hara is TCPalm's environment reporter. Contact him at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida sea turtle nesting season false crawls on Vero Beach Solve the daily Crossword
Pembrokeshire Herald
10-06-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Welsh Government extends funding for coastal capacity building
Coastal Capacity Building Scheme extended for two years to support fisheries and coastal communities with sustainable growth and diversification COASTAL communities across Wales – including Pembrokeshire – will benefit from a fresh injection of funding as the Welsh Government extends its Coastal Capacity Building Scheme for another two years. The scheme, delivered in partnership with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), will provide £260,000 per year from 2025 to 2027 to support grassroots environmental projects aimed at restoring and protecting the marine environment. Since launching in October 2023, the scheme has already funded eleven projects that connect people with the coastal environment, helping communities understand their role in tackling nature loss. In Pembrokeshire, groups such as the local Biodiversity Partnership and marine awareness organisations are understood to be exploring applications for the next round of funding. The next phase of the scheme will have a particular focus on fisheries, aiming to boost community capacity and ensure people living along the coast have the skills and evidence they need to support sustainable development and nature recovery. Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies said: 'This funding extension reflects our commitment to improving resilience in our coastal communities. These locally-led projects are exactly the kind of collaborative approach we need – bringing together communities, local authorities and businesses to protect our precious marine environment while creating sustainable opportunities.' One of the current projects is the Coastal Connections initiative led by Neath Port Talbot Council, which has delivered beach cleans, seashore safaris, and even a marine mammal medic course. The aim is to reconnect people with the coastline and highlight habitats that are often overlooked in post-industrial landscapes. Rebecca Sharp, Countryside and Wildlife Team Leader for Neath Port Talbot Council, said: 'Neath Port Talbot's coastline is generally associated with its rich industrial heritage rather than its habitats and wild spaces. The Coastal Connections project aimed to change that narrative – and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.' Locally, similar projects could include work with school children, harbour users, conservation groups and the fishing industry, particularly in areas such as Milford Haven, Fishguard, Tenby and St Davids. Applications for the next round of funding are now open. Interested groups should contact their Local Nature Partnership Co-ordinator, who will act as the lead applicant. Further information is available by emailing lnpcymru@
