Latest news with #seaTurtles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Panama City Beach ordinance limits digging holes at the beach
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – It's against the law in Panama City Beach to dig holes deeper than 2 feet without refilling them. One hole can easily trap a sea turtle that has come ashore to build a nest. 'We have a lot of sea turtles and marine life that come up onto our shores and cause them to get trapped or have a hard time to get back to their home,' Panama City Beach Beach Safety Supervisor Hannah Anderson said. The sand holes can be extremely deceptive. 'People could like fall into the sand and they could get buried very deep if it was like a very deep hole and it would be very hard to get out,' beachgoer Carlos Nolser said. In 2016, an Oklahoma teenager dug a hole in the side of a dune at St. Andrews State Park. The soft sand collapsed, burying Travor Brown in the hole. First responders eventually pulled him out, but he suffered brain damage due to a lack of oxygen. Brown died after his family agreed to remove him from life support. Holes in the sand can also delay emergency vehicles' response time. 'If we get a call and we're going kind of fast on the sand, sometimes we can hit those holes that people have dug and it will stop us right in our tracks. Maybe we have to be out of service for that call if we have to work on getting us out of that hole,' Anderson said. Beach Safety Patrol Officers patrol up and down the beach, keeping a lookout for deep holes. First, they provide a warning to the person responsible. If the hole is not filled, code enforcement can write them a ticket, which costs more with every new offense. Many beachgoers are unaware of the ordinance. 'That's something I never would have thought about. But I had no idea the safety concerns that might come about from digging holes, you know, big-sized holes holding the sand,' Beachgoer Phillip Prater said. No metal shovels are allowed on the beach and the city also has a 'Leave no Trace' ordinance, requiring people to remove all personal items from the ordinances also impact sea turtles, especially now that nesting season is underway. Panama City Beach Turtle Watch volunteers have found six turtle nests so far. Once those eggs hatch, the hatchlings need a clean, dark, flat surface to make it to the Gulf. No holes in the beach can increase their chances of survival. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Cold-stunned, injured, rescued: 50 sea turtles returned to Abu Dhabi waters
Dozens of children, conservationists, and curious onlookers lined the shores of Jumeirah Saadiyat Beach on Wednesday morning as 50 sea turtles, once injured or sick, were returned to their natural home. A massive turtle which took several hands to carry from its container, seemed to sprint as soon as it touched the sand. Smaller turtles seemed equally excited — flicking flippers in the air as soon as they were lifted from their plastic basins. As they hit the shoreline, they shuffled their way through, disappearing into the water in a matter of seconds. This public release, organised by the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi (EAD), in collaboration with Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue and The National Aquarium, is part of a years-long effort to rescue and rehabilitate marine turtles vulnerable to threats in UAE waters. 'This season we've contributed 137 turtles,' said Scott McCoy, senior zoological director at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. 'Today, 25 of those are ready to go back. The rest will go back shortly.' Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The turtles released had spent weeks or months recovering from a range of conditions, from infections and injuries to one particularly surprising ailment: the cold. 'Yes, you heard me right, they get cold,' McCoy said. 'If they are in water that is too cold, it'll actually suck the energy from their body. They become lethargic, stop eating, and then you get dehydration and other issues.' This phenomenon, known as 'cold-stunning', may seem unlikely in the Arabian Gulf, but marine experts say temperature swings between summer and winter are more extreme than many realise. 'In the summer, the water can reach 35°C, but in winter, it drops to 12°C or 13°C,' explained Lewis Cocks, curator at The National Aquarium. 'That massive change is what shocks the turtles. Being cold-blooded, they rely on the external environment to regulate their body temperature.' Many of the turtles are juveniles, including hawksbills born locally in Abu Dhabi, who may not yet know to avoid colder waters in winter. Found washed ashore or floating with barnacle-covered shells, they are often reported by beachgoers and coastal residents. 'We really rely on the public,' said McCoy. 'If they ever see an animal in distress, we want them to call us.' Members of the public can call the Abu Dhabi Government hotline (800-555) if they encounter a turtle on land or in the water, said Dr Hind Alameri, acting section head of marine biodiversity at EAD. But she cautioned against trying to help without guidance. 'Sometimes, they have injuries that can be worsened if handled. The best thing to do is stay away and report it,' she said. EAD has rescued over 1,500 turtles since launching its programme in 2016. This season alone, 287 turtles have been saved — 140 by The National Aquarium and 147 by Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue. For McCoy's team, the most serious case this season involved a turtle with a flipper amputation. 'We don't know why it was injured, but the flipper had to be removed. It's now doing great and will be released in the next batch,' he said. Even turtles with missing limbs can return to the wild if deemed fit by the environmental authorities. 'We make sure they can swim, feed, and survive on their own before release,' he added. As part of their expanded research, this year 15 turtles, identified as special cases, are being fitted with satellite GPS trackers. 'You'll see five of those today,' said Cocks. 'We want to learn where they go, where they feed, and whether they migrate. It's valuable data for conservation.' 'These animals are getting a second chance,' McCoy concluded. 'They don't get that chance if it's not for the people who report them, and the people who work every day to bring them back.'
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Dancing Turtles Rock: Why Turtle Survival Demands Urgent Action
Sea turtle swims under water on the background of coral reefs. Maldives Indian Ocean coral reef. May 23rd is World Turtle Day and the theme for 2025 is 'Dancing Turtles Rock!'. This is a joyful call to action for one of Earth's oldest and most threatened species. Turtles have been in existence for 200 million years according to and that is in itself a testimony of their resilience even in the midst of the negative actions of humanity. In 2021 the global sea turtle population is estimated at 6.5 million according to the Olive Ridley Project, but many species are under critical threat. The hawksbill turtle, for instance, has declined so drastically that only 57,000 to 83,000 individuals remain worldwide. However, not all news is grim. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported over 100,000 nesting turtles on monitored beaches, reflecting decades of conservation gains. Big group of sea turtles just steps on the beach toward the sea. Climate change is altering the very biology of turtles, with rising global temperatures threatening to skew natural sex ratios and shrink populations. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Ocean Service, turtle eggs incubated at temperatures below 27°C typically produce males, while those above 31°C result in females. As global temperatures rise, the proportion of male hatchlings is sharply declining, a trend that could drastically reduce reproductive success over time. Fewer males mean fewer opportunities for mating, which could accelerate population declines for already vulnerable species. According to Conservation Ontario, climate change is also degrading turtle habitats by reducing wetland surface area, lowering freshwater quality, and increasing the frequency of droughts and extreme weather events. These changes threaten to erode biodiversity and make survival even harder for freshwater and land turtle populations. The long-term survival of turtles depends not only on direct conservation action but also on broader efforts to mitigate climate change and protect critical ecosystems. HATAY, TURKIYE - A sea turtle (Caretta Caretta) is seen amid ghost nets of fishers despite the ... More efforts of conservation, many die due to plastic wastes every year (Photo by Ozge Elif Kizil/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) The resilience of the turtles is evident as global efforts are making an impact. For example, according to the Times of India, Operation Olivia, a conservation initiative by the Indian Coast Guard, protected over 698,000 Olive Ridley turtles during a single nesting season. This large-scale effort has been instrumental in reducing poaching and ensuring safe beach conditions for mass nesting events along India's eastern coastline. According to a March 2025 review published by NOAA Fisheries and featured in Nature Reviews Biodiversity, most sea turtle populations are rebounding globally thanks to decades of conservation work. The review analyzed nearly 300 nesting records across all seven sea turtle species and found that population increases were six times more frequent than declines, signaling a major marine conservation success. Key drivers of this progress include the reduction of artificial beachfront lighting, widespread bans on hunting, and the adoption of turtle-friendly fishing practices. For example, in Cape Verde, annual loggerhead turtle nests surged from 500 in 2008 to over 35,000 by 2020, while four out of five green turtle populations showed growth. However, the report notes that leatherback turtles remain in serious decline, and climate change still poses a major threat, especially through warming sands that skew hatchling sex ratios toward females. Encouragingly, loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean have begun nesting in cooler areas potentially a natural adaptation to buffer against extreme warming. NOAA researchers emphasize that public attitudes have shifted too, with communities once reliant on turtle hunting now benefiting from eco-tourism. LADY ELLIOT ISLAND, AUSTRALIA - A Hawksbill sea turtle is seen swimming (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty ... More Images) World Turtle Day 2025 is a call to recommit to one of Earth's most remarkable species. Under the theme 'Dancing Turtles Rock!', we are reminded that while turtles have endured for millions of years, their future depends on us. Climate change, habitat loss, and pollution continue to threaten their survival. The beauty of it is that we know what works, protecting habitats, eliminating plastic waste, and funding conservation can help these ancient creatures to thrive:
Times
16-05-2025
- Times
The secret affordable coastline that in-the-know Floridians love
Only 30 minutes' drive from the mansions and skyscrapers of Palm Beach County — home, at last count, to 58 billionaires and one sitting president — is a quiet stretch of sand lined with wild grasses and seagrape bushes. Here, a sign at the low-key café in the dunes reads: 'No Tipping. Service is Our Pleasure'. This is Martin County, a 22-mile stretch of barrier islands and yacht-dotted lagoons north of Palm Beach that couldn't feel more different from its glitzy neighbour. I came to explore it while travelling between Miami and Orlando's Universal Studios last summer. I'd wanted to break the five-hour road trip midway (it's a two-hour drive from each) and had been drawn to this stretch of Florida's Atlantic coast by its similarity to the Florida Keys, 170 miles south. All fishing charters, quayside restaurants and pelicans perched on pilings, it has that laid-back charm for which Florida's southern island chain is famous but is much closer to Orlando's theme parks — and a lot cheaper too. Take the free turtle nest excavation I had on Hutchinson Island, one of the barrier islands, which made me feel as if I was on an Attenborough documentary and even involved getting eggshell under my fingernails. I had the privilege of seeing not just one tiny thumb-sized loggerhead sea turtle hatch but also eight newborn leatherbacks being released into the cold Atlantic swells. Like the 20 others watching the scientist Nell Brewer at work, I couldn't believe my luck that such an experience was entirely gratis (the county also lays on dolphin-spotting trips, beach kayaking sessions and nature walks for no charge whatsoever; Martin County is such a well-kept secret that, everywhere I went, I was the only foreigner. Even a model friend who lives in nearby Miami and was once invited to a party at Donald Trump's Palm Beach mansion Mar-a-Lago (and has the selfie with the president to prove it) hadn't heard of the place, let alone visited. He's been missing a trick. Martin County is theplace to go if you're trying to get yourself 'shoot ready'. It's all about embracing the outdoors, whether you're into surfing, sailing (practically a religion, as proved by the two dozen marinas along its bays and inlets), canoeing, cycling or walking. There's plenty of opportunity for the last of these at the Jonathan Dickinson State Park, a vast wilderness crisscrossed with paved bridleways, as well as rivers full of alligators and manatees, which visitors can spot on guided boat trips (£20pp for a 90-minute ride; Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus recently tried to build three golf courses in the park but were given short shrift. Martin County already has 28 public courses and you'll find even more just minutes north in neighbouring St Lucie County, including the PGA Golf Club's 54 Championship holes (18 holes from £60; Palm Beach, of course, has dozens of pay-and-play options, not to mention exclusive private members' clubs such as the Floridian National, where Trump and Woods used to play together. Its membership is said to include Barack Obama and George W Bush, while the basketball legend Michael Jordan was allegedly asked to leave for playing music too loud on his buggy. I'm not into golf but I did spy its fairways during a two-hour sundown sail from the city of Stuart with Treasure Coast Sailing Adventures, reclining on deck as our sleek six-man catamaran slipped along the tidal lagoon that separates Martin County from Palm Beach (£38; It was too late to spot any celebs on the greens so we focused instead on finding a more benign local — the area's resident bottlenose dolphin, which the captain Fred Newhart said he sees most days, nursing her foot-long calf. The bay is the perfect place for her to raise the youngster as the waters are teeming with shoals of fish. • Read our full guide to Florida Game fishing is also big business in this part of Florida and Stuart is known as the sailfish capital of the world. Quintessentially Floridian, the city is like Key West but without the spring breakers and Hemingway hordes. The 19th-century president Grover Cleveland loved it so much, he planned to build his own version of Mar-a-Lago here but died before he got the chance. Its downtown streets are great for browsers. They're lined with ice-cream parlours and boutiques selling everything from driftwood herons (at the Rare Earth Gallery) to barely there beachwear in crochet and macramé (at Vetu). Better still, in the courtyards behind the shops you'll find lively restaurants and bars such as Sneaki Tiki, which serves £1.50 tacos and £2 beers ( • The affordable way to see Florida's best bits — without a car I was staying on Hutchinson Island, a 15-minute drive north of Stuart, in the nautical-themed hotel Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa. It's one of the pricier options in the area but does have an idyllic setting on Jensen Beach. I woke each morning to find figure-of-eight tracks on the sand beneath my balcony — signs that turtles had been nesting (room-only doubles from £242; Other intriguing tourist sights nearby include the House of Refuge Museum, a bizarre yet fascinating Victorian home built as a haven for potential shipwreck survivors along what was then a sparsely populated coastline (£8; Then there's the Elliott Museum, which has so many one-of-a-kind classic cars, they have to be lowered down on a giant jukebox-style lift for visitors to view (£16). Two minutes from the hotel is the lagoon-side neighbourhood of Jensen Beach, home to laid-back, Keys-style hangouts such as Conchy Joe's, with its musical bingo nights and topless mermaid mural (mains from £14; If you like prawns, oysters and crabs, you'll love this restaurant's neon-lit seafood bar. As a veggie, I was more at home at nearby Tako Tiki, an open-air eating spot specialising in street tacos and burritos, where couples slow-danced between the tables and diners whooped at the scruffy hippy playing the guitar (mains from £13; They were all locals but that might not be the case for long. The high-speed train that links Miami and Orlando will be stopping in Stuart from 2026. Whether the turtle-spotting will still be free once that happens is debatable. But you'll be more than happy to Edwards as a guest of America As You Like It, which has ten nights' room-only — five in Stuart and five in Orlando — from £1,825pp, including flights and car hire (
