Of the seven species of sea turtles found in the world’s oceans, five species frequent Florida’s coastal waters. These species: the leatherback, green, loggerhead, hawksbill and Kemp’s ridley, are all protected by federal and state law. During turtle nesting season, which is March 1st to November 15th on Florida’s east coast, you’ll find the leatherback, green and loggerhead coming up onto the beaches to lay their eggs in the sand and then the hatchlings emerging from their nests to head back to sea. But while they are not nesting, sea turtles can be found in the shallow coastal waterways feeding on seagrass or tasty invertebrates, such as jellyfish, lobsters and conchs.
Sea turtles have a special connection to helping maintain balanced ecosystems. The green sea turtles forage in the seagrass beds of the Indian River Lagoon, which helps keep these areas healthy to support a variety of other species, including juvenile game fish. And by laying their eggs in the sand, sea turtles are helping add nutrients to an otherwise nutrient deficient dune system. With healthy dune plants, we get a stabilized dune, which prevents erosion and allows further nesting in the future. Nature is all interconnected! So by helping one species or ecosystem, we are helping everything connected to it.
Anglers spend more time on the waterways than most, so they must take great responsibility to protect and preserve the animals, including sea turtles, and their habitats.
Anything you take out fishing with you, must either come back with you or be properly disposed of. Monofilament line and fishing hooks can cause serious injury to sea turtles if ingested or entangled.
If you accidentally hook a sea turtle, be careful with it. Do not try to lift a large turtle out of the water by the line. This will only injure the sea turtle if it is hooked in a location that is hard to see. According to FWC’s website, if the turtle is too large to board safely, leave it in the water and use line clippers to remove as much line as possible from the animal. Do not leave line attached. If it is hooked externally, cut the line at the eye of the hook or as close to the hook as possible. If the turtle is hooked internally or in the mouth or throat so that it is not fully visible, cut the leader as close to the eye of the hook as possible and leave the hook in place to minimize damage.
Always use caution while boating. Keep an eye out for sea turtles coming up for air. Be aware of the water depth so you don’t damage fragile, shallow seagrass beds.
If you own beachfront property, or fish on the shorelines, be sure to follow lighting regulations during turtle season. Also, remove any beach furniture or fishing equipment that could become obstacles for nesting sea turtles or hatchlings.
If you come across a nesting sea turtle, please keep your distance and keep your lights or cameras off so you do not disturb her. Sea turtles are extremely sensitive and any distraction could cause them to return to the sea without nesting.
If you come across hatchlings on the beach, it’s best to let them find their way to the water on their own. Do not pick them up. They are said to imprint during their crawl.
Another way to help is to fill in any holes along to shoreline or knock down sandcastles so these don’t act as obstacles for nesting females or hatchlings.
If you come across a sea turtle that is stranded or dead, a hatchling that is wandering in a road/ parking lot or directions other than the water; or if you see someone disturbing a nest or turtle, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Resource Alert number at 1-888-404- FWCC (3922) or *FWC from your cell phone.
Thank you for being a responsible angler and promoting environmental stewardship through your good example. It’s amazing what an impact these simple steps can have in helping provide a better environment for future anglers.
CONTRIBUTED BY: Michelle Byriel, Education & Exhibit Specialist
Florida Oceanographic Society
Telephone: (772) 225-0505 x116
Website: www.floridaocean.org
Florida Oceanographic Society’s mission is to inspire environmental stewardship of Florida’s coastal ecosystems through education and research.
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