I received this email this morning and would like to share it with all of you.

Essentially JET would like to try and help implement sea turtle monitoring in Portland and Treasure Beach. To that end, we’d like to hold workshops with community members about sea turtles, threats to them, etc. and in an effort to reduce poaching get community members involved in sea turtle monitoring. We can identify sea turtle nesting beaches and move on from there. Sea turtle monitoring is a good eco-tourism product but it’s something that needs to be done so we can have an idea about what’s happening with these populations. We have an NGO in Portland we’re partnering with and would love to have one in TB as well.


Please contact Christine Sullivan at cosullivan.jet@cwjamaica.com for further information.

This topic has been on mind minds for days because I was doing some research on turtle breeding grounds and found out that the numbers are staggeringly low. Turtles are slowly disappearing from our planet and they are said to be one of the closest animals (alongside alligators and crocidiles) to dinosaurs.

Miss Sullivan I suggest to get hold of Miss Zane at the Primary School. If someone comes to talk to the children and gets them excited they will go home and tell their parents and you will get some volunteers. Not enough people in TB have access to this site to find the volunteers you need but you will discover there are many people who care when they learn the facts.

Is this deja vu?
Round and round we go.
Been there, done that.
You will be dissapointed. It is easier to remain ignorant than to seek the truth.
May as well start a 'save the hermit crab' petition. You will get about the same interest.

The following article was sent to me this morning.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100311/ap_on_sc/us_turtle_protection

Endangered listing eyed for US loggerhead turtles
Buzz up!4 votesSendSharePrintAP – FILE - In this May 15, 2007 file photo, a loggerhead sea turtle swims at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. …
Slideshow:Turtles and Tortoises
By JAY LINDSAY, Associated Press Writer – Thu Mar 11, 12:29 am ET
BOSTON – The federal government on Wednesday recommended an endangered-species listing for the loggerhead turtles in U.S. waters, a decision that could lead to tighter restrictions on fishing and other maritime trades.
The massive, nomadic sea turtles have been listed since 1978 as threatened, a step below endangered, but federal scientists proposed ratcheting up the designation after reviewing the state of the species.
Researchers said primary threats to the loggerheads include injury and death from fishing gear and damage to their nesting areas.
The joint proposal by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's fisheries division and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is not a final decision. If approved, it puts loggerheads on track for an endangered listing by the summer of 2011. The proposal now enters a public comment period.
Environmental groups who'd been pushing an endangered listing said the proposal was a "turning point" they hope will lead to greater turtle protections.
"I think it's huge day for loggerhead sea turtles," said Elizabeth Griffin, a marine wildlife scientist at Oceana. "I think it really draws attention to the fact these turtles are not doing well and more needs to be done to protect them."
No one really knows how many loggerheads there are, or how many are being killed by fishing gear or other activities. A species doesn't need falling numbers to be endangered, it can get the listing if it's shown to be threatened by one of five factors, such as disease or "manmade factors affecting its continued existence."
Griffin cites a 40 percent drop in the number of nesting females in Florida over the last decade as evidence of trouble. But the Fisheries Survival Fund, an East Coast scallopers group, said in a letter early this month that nesting beach surveys can't provide good evidence of decline because they measure only mature females, who take at least 30 years to reach breeding age.
Shaun Gehan, an attorney for the Fisheries Survival Fund, said an endangered listing is unneeded for a species there's no evidence is in danger of extinction. If new protections are mandated for the turtle, it could affect not only fishermen, but maritime traffic, coastal development and waterfront use, Gehan said.
"We are extremely disappointed that they've taken this approach," he said.
Loggerheads are named for their large heads, which contain potent jaws that can crush the hard shells of prey such as conch. The turtles are about the size of a fist when they hatch and make a frenzied dash to the surf. But they typically grow to more than three feet in length and 250 pounds. The animal can log thousands of miles as it travels across oceans.
Barbara Schroeder, national sea turtle coordinator for NOAA's fisheries division, said the biggest threats to the North Pacific loggerhead include damage to primary nesting sites, which are mainly in Japan, as well as accidental snaring of the turtles in fishing gear.
Andrea Treece of San Francisco-based Center for Biological Diversity said the turtles get hooked by Hawaiian longline fishermen targeting swordfish and tuna and can be injured or drowned.
On the East Coast, the main threat to turtles is gear from the region's various fisheries, Schroeder said.
Gehan said that scallopers have developed dredges to keep the turtles out with a chain mat that covers the opening. Critics say the dredges keep turtles out, but also crush them, though survival fund officials say there's no evidence of that.
A primary benefit of the endangered status would be increased public pressure on protecting the species, Griffin said. But the government would also have to determine "critical habitats," such as where the turtles reproduce or forage. Such places could be subject to additional protections for the turtles, including restrictions on maritime development or fishing.
A balance needs to be found to help a species Griffin called "the ambassadors of our oceans" because they travel great distances and can be seen up close when they venture on land.
"I think that really gives people an appreciation for our turtles and marine life," she said

NEPA: HATCHLINGS: THE LAW & PENALTIES... (EXCEPTIONS?)

NEPA: Do Not Disturb Sea Turtle Hatchlings

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has sought to remind the public that disturbing or harming sea turtle hatchlings, which may now be emerging along beaches around the island and on the offshore cays, is against the law.

According to NEPA, Jamaica's sea turtles nest yearly, but the major portion of its population nest during the period July to November each year.

"Now that the peak period of the season has ended, hatchlings may be seen emerging and making their way to the water," NEPA said in a release. "Hatchlings are particularly vulnerable during this period and special care must be taken not to disturb them."
The environment protection agency said members of the public are also urged to avoid illuminating beaches at nights, as lights disorient both adults and hatchlings.

All sea turtles are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1945, and the Endangered Species (Protection Conservation and Regulation of Trade) Act, 2000.

"It is an offence to have sea turtles in one's possession, whether whole or part, dead or alive," NEPA stressed.
"This includes adult turtles, hatchlings, shells, meat, eggs and all other turtle derived products, such as turtle shell craft items or jewellery. Persons found in possession of turtles or any of these items can be fined up to $100,000 or imprisoned for up to one year."

Persons who wish to report sightings may contact the toll-free line for NEPA, week-days 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.,(1-888-991-5005). Offences must be reported promptly to the nearest police station.

Copyright Jamaica-Gleaner.com
(December 21, 2007)

Some good news:
Pictures of baby sea turtles

Love to see pictures of this nature.
Those baby turtles are now safe, frolicking in their own habitat.
My daughter Nicola love turtles.The name of her pet turtle was Pixy and at the age of 13 she took him with her on our vacation to Florida where he slept in the bath tub at nights and during the days she carried him in her special bag everywhere we went.He toured Disney world,Bush Gardens and Key West.
When he died she buried him in the back yard with tears rolling down her cheeks, that was one sad day.
Now at the age of 42 her new pet is Emma the dog, which by the way was purchased for my first grand-daughter Sidney.
I will make sure she sees these pictures.
Keep-up the wonderful work you all are doing in Treasure Beach and thanks again.....beautiful pictures.