The world’s longest running hawksbill turtle monitoring program kicked off research this year on June 1. The field team is comprised of Claire Stocker and Emma Kurus, who both recently graduated with degrees in Conservation Biology from the University of Minnesota, where they acquired skills in the protection and management of imperiled species and ecosystems. Dr. Seth Stapleton, who has been involved with the Jumby Bay Hawksbill Project since 2004, continues to manage the program from afar and serves as the Director of Conservation and Research at the Minnesota Zoo.
Since 2016, Jumby Bay Hawksbill Project researchers have outfitted nesting hawksbills with satellite transmitters to improve our understanding of their post-nesting movements and better document the connectivity of the Caribbean region for marine turtles. A total of 27 transmitters have been deployed over the past 7 years, and the team has recorded migratory routes and foraging grounds ranging from local destinations in Antigua, Barbuda and the Lesser Antilles to sites as far as the Bahamas, Nicaragua, and the Grenadines. The satellite transmitters are affixed to the shells of hawksbills with several layers of epoxy, and a coat of marine anti-fouling paint is applied to protect the transmitters. Transmitters are equipped with saltwater switches that turn them off when the turtle is underwater and then communicate with satellites when she surfaces out of the water.
While annual nesting numbers have declined significantly over the past several years, a resurgence is coming to fruition, with >115 nests documented since early June; nesting activity is outpacing the marks set in recent years. The research team hypothesizes that decreases were observed in previous years due to various factors, including sargassum, general reef health across the Caribbean, major hurricanes, and climate change. This season the increased nesting numbers is a positive sign to the team.
The presence and persistence of a significant nesting population of hawksbill sea turtles, a critically endangered species, shows the importance of sustainable development on Jumby to ensure its ongoing beauty and thriving wildlife. It also highlights the importance of ongoing efforts of the Fund and Jumby Bay operations teams that continuously monitor the Sargassum and implement plans to mitigate the increasing levels. The sea turtle research and JBIC teams are working together to ensure the island’s beaches remain healthy and conducive to nesting sea turtles while implementing best business practices.
In addition to their research responsibilities, the field team is also excited to share the magic of nesting hawksbills with visitors. The team had the privilege of welcoming >70 guests and homeowners of the island to view nesting turtles by late July. Onlookers often remark on their beauty, and how incredible it is that they return to Jumby beaches each time they nest.
Comments are closed