Caption: A Leatherback Sea Turtle safely making it back to shore. It is important that Sea Turtles be allowed to make their own way to the beach so that they are able to return to the same beach to lay their eggs.
The St. Maarten Nature Foundation is inviting Organizations, Groups and Individuals who are interested in the proper care and handling of Sea Turtles and their nesting to attend a workshop on Monday, the 4th of November. During the course important information will be given on the handling, reporting, observation and protection of St. Maarten’s resident and nesting Sea Turtle Population. "Recently there has been a great deal of interest in hatchling sea turtles; however the population needs to be aware of the way in which the animals should be handled and taken care of. Some in their enthusiasm seek to help the animals but oftentimes create more harm than good and it is therefore that we decided to conduct this workshop for interested organizations, groups and individuals to participate in and learn the proper way to observe, record and handle sea turtles."
The St. Maarten Nature Foundation actively manages the sea turtle population on St. Maarten, particularly during the nesting season and conducts various activities with regards to nesting females including beach surveys, nest excavations, tagging activities, and nest success research. The Nature Foundation welcomes any volunteers who might be interested in Sea Turtle research. Beach communities in particular are in the best position to help ensure that females nest safely, that nests are left undisturbed and that hatchlings make it safely to sea. The Nature Foundation asks that people do not drive on the nesting beaches and that they walk their dog on a leash.
Sea turtle population numbers have plummeted to dangerously low numbers throughout the past century due to human impacts, bringing many species close to extinction, causing them to be listed as critically endangered. In order to reverse this trend, all sea turtle species are now protected by international laws and treaties as well as local laws. Based on ARTICLE 16 and 17 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance St. Maarten it is illegal to kill, wound, capture, pick-up, have animals that belong to a protected animal species, to directly or indirectly disturb their environment resulting in a physical threat or damage to the fauna or to commit other acts which result in disturbance of the animal. It is also forbidden to upset an animal belonging to a protected species, to disturb, damage or destroy its nest, lair, or breeding place, as well as to take the nest of such an animal. Also, it is forbidden to pick-up or to destroy the eggs of animals belonging to a protected species.
To register for the workshop or to report nesting activity or illegal activity, please call the Sea Turtle Hotline 9229 or call the Nature Foundation office at 5444267 or email the Foundation at ma*****@na*****************.org