Recent News
Fishermen split by reef predator reportThursday, May 11, 2017
The surest way to secure Bermuda’s reef fishing industry is to impose further restrictions and a ban on the sale of certain species according to lifelong fisherman Alan Card.
Rescue plan could stress out turtles
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
A plan to relocate sea turtles in advance of the America’s Cup has sparked concerns from environmentalists about the impact on the animals’ health.
Greenrock On Relocation Plan For Sea Turtles
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
“Greenrock was surprised by the announcement to capture and relocate sea turtles from the Great Sound for May and June, it is certainly an interesting initiative, and one that raises some questions for consideration,” Greenrock Executive Director Jonathan Starling said.
Great Sound turtles ‘moving home’ for Cup
Monday, May 08, 2017
Sea turtles are being temporarily relocated from the Great Sound to keep them out of harm’s way during the America’s Cup.
Sea Turtles Being ‘Temporarily Relocated’
Sunday, May 07, 2017
[Updated] In “anticipation of intense boating activity in the Great Sound,” the America’s Cup Bermuda is “coordinating a temporary sea turtle relocation project,” in which “sea turtles will be netted based on methods used successfully for turtle tagging operations and temporarily relocated inside a purpose-built ocean enclosure” near the Aquarium in Flatts.
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All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!
Jennifer Gray, Bermuda Director, Bermuda Turtle Project
Are you an early riser? Do you like to walk beaches?
Be a part of our Citizen Science Volunteer Programme... take a walk and report sea turtle nesting events.
In 1870 Bermuda's Attorney General declared that there was no nesting of sea turtles in Bermuda giving us an approximate time reference for the local extinction of our nesting green turtles.
Sea turtle nesting events in Bermuda; of 1990 (Loggerhead), 2005 (Loggerhead) and 2015 (Green) give us a glimmer of hope for the future and suggest a possibility that sea turtles are nesting sporadically hidden from human eyes. All three of these nests were discovered fortuitously by observant members of our community and we encourage everyone to be aware of the tell-tale signs of sea turtle nesting and report any events to the Bermuda Turtle Project.
Historic records suggest that sea turtles in Bermuda nested between late April through June and certainly June, July and August would provide the optimal sand temperature for a sixty- day incubation period of eggs.
To identify the tracks (crawls) of a nesting sea turtle observations should be made early in the morning when they are fresh and unaltered by wind and rain. Whenever possible photographic records should be obtained. The tracks of a nesting sea turtle should emerge from the high tide mark and lead to a disturbed area of sand at the back of a beach with another track returning to the sea. Loggerhead tracks are approximately three feet wide while Green Turtle tracks are typically four feet wide.
Photos: Sea Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Hatchlings emerging from a nest may not leave clear tracks depending on the type of sand and wind conditions but when they do many small tracks from the nest to the sea may be observed. These should not be confused with the tracks of a hermit crab. If there are bright lights the vicinity of the beach hatchlings may become disoriented and have trouble finding the ocean.
Tracks from disoriented hatchlings.
Their tracks should lead straight to the sea. Hermit Crab tracks
Photo: Sea Turtle Conservancy
Help us understand the status of sea turtle nesting by reporting any tracks or nesting events to the Bermuda Turtle Project by calling (441) 332-2966.