Endangered turtles return to Caribbean coast for nesting season
The Caribbean is one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in the world, and Trinidad in particular is home to the second largest leatherback turtle nesting site in the world and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. May through August is the best time to see both nesting mothers and newly hatched turtles, making for a magical and unforgettable experience.
Sea turtles are keystone species, endangered or vulnerable, and play a vital role in keeping our oceans healthy: they provide food for other wildlife, maintain coral reefs and seagrass beds, and keep jellyfish populations in check. Hatchlings have a low chance of surviving to adulthood, with fewer than 1 in 1,000 turtles making it to adulthood. Adult females eventually return to shore to begin the ritual anew.
That’s one of many reasons Widecast — The Caribbean Sea Turtle Network, which is made up of NGOs from all over the Caribbean (Widecast) — has worked tirelessly to protect turtles through community-led programs, beach patrols, turtle tagging, captive breeding, rehabilitation, public education and turtle tours for locals and tourists.
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago There are five species of sea turtles (leatherback, hawksbill, green, olive ridley and loggerhead) and five beaches in particular have large numbers of sea turtles (especially leatherbacks) at Grande Rivière, Matura and Fishing Pond (Trinidad), Stonehaven and Courland (Tobago). Sea turtles also nest at other popular beaches such as Maracas, Las Cuevas, Mayaro, Manzanilla, Lambeau, Man-no-War Bay and Pigeon Point. Naturalist (Nature Seekers) & Turtle Village Trust (Turtle Village Trust)
Barbados It boasts one of the largest populations of hawksbill turtles in the Caribbean. Nesting mothers seek out the more secluded areas of the island’s south and west coasts between April and November, laying over 100 eggs at a time up to six times a season. Barbados Sea Turtle Project: Barbados
Cayman Islands The national symbol is the green sea turtle, whose population was nearly wiped out in recent decades, but efforts by local NGOs have seen an increase in nesting numbers. Green turtles lay eggs several times per season, and nests can sometimes house more than 100 turtles. Cayman Islands Turtle Centre: (345) 949-3894, info@turtle.ky
Guyana: Shell Beach on the north shore is home to olive ridley turtles, one of the ocean’s smallest sea turtles (March to August), and getting to this remote and untouched area is half the adventure. Guyana Sea Turtle Conservation Society: Guyana Marine Conservation.
Grenada: Loggerhead, green, hawksbill and especially leatherback turtles visit the island and are particularly common around Revera Beach (April to June). Ocean Spirits
Dominican Republic: Loggerhead, green, leatherback and hawksbill turtles can be seen particularly at Rosalie Bay, Bout Sable, Cabana Bay, Wesley and Calibishie (April to June). Domseto
Jamaica: Hawksbill turtles are the main attraction here, especially on the north coast (June to August). jamentrust.org/seaturtles
Florida (USA): Loggerheads and four other species of sea turtles are protected by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Sea Turtle Conservation Program on the East Coast (between Titusville and Fort Lauderdale). Nesting peaks in June and July. myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles
Visit our website Caribbean Beat — Find out more about turtle conservation across the region and how you can help.
