Sea Turtles & Plastic Pollution

© Troy Mayne / WWF

In spite of broad efforts to implement plastic recycling programs worldwide, only about 9% of plastics are recycled. The majority of all plastic produced eventually ends up in landfills or our oceans – and we produce A LOT of plastic. Humans are dumping the equivalent of one garbage truck full of plastic waste per second into the ocean and this rate shows no signs of abating. Plastic pollution is a threat to sea turtles and other marine creatures that may become entangled in plastic debris, ingest microplastic debris they mistake as food, or ingest plastic indirectly through consumption of prey species, leading to illness or death.

People who want to be a part of the solution can start by reducing their own use of single-use plastics, recycling properly, supporting companies and industries that are working to reduce plastic consumption, encouraging friends, family, and local businesses to reduce plastic usage, and engaging their representatives about the issue.

Check out the links below to learn more about the problem and the solutions, then test your plastic pollution knowledge with an EarthDay.org quiz!

The scope of the problem: Billions of tons of plastic have been made over the past decades, and much of it is becoming trash and litter.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment

Close to home:  The South Carolina Senate recently passed a bill to keep “nurdles” - pelleted raw material for producing plastics - from polluting Charleston waterways.
https://abcnews4.com/news/local/sc-senate-passes-nurdle-bill-to-help-curb-plastic-pellet-spills

The scoop on single-use plastics: Plastics straws and plastic bags may get the most attention, but we are surrounded by single-use plastic products and packaging, much of which can be avoided.
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/single-use-plastics-101

How to recycle properly: Recycling rules and regulations vary regionally, and a lot of potentially recyclable materials are discarded as waste, either at home or by the recycling center. Check out these tips on how to recycle properly.
https://www.earthday.org/youre-doing-it-wrong-7-tips-to-recycle-better/

The data behind the problem: A trove of data, charts and graphs demonstrate how big the plastic pollution problem is.
https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution

Quiz yourself: https://www.earthday.org/oceans-and-plastic-pollution-quiz/

#EarthDayEveryDay #SeabrookIslandTurtlePatrol #SeaTurtles #Loggerhead

Sea Turtles & Fishing Bycatch

One of the biggest threats facing sea turtles is mortality through fishing bycatch - when a non-targeted species is caught. The majority of fishing's impacts on sea turtles are from commercial operations, however, turtles are also sometimes caught from the shore with hook and line. It's important to know what to do in the event that you catch a non-targeted species such as sea turtles. Better yet, it's important to take measures that will limit the chances of bycatch. Below are some marine mammal and sea turtle-friendly fishing tips from the NOAA, as well as instructions from the South Carolina DNR on what to do if you accidentally hook a sea turtle.

• Never abandon fishing gear. Hooks, lines, or nets left in the water can entangle and kill sea turtles and marine mammals.

• Use barbless circle hooks and knot-free buoy lines to reduce injuries.

• Inspect gear often to avoid unwanted line breaks.

• Recycle fishing line and stash your trash.

• Change fishing location if sea turtles or marine mammals show interest in your bait or catch.

• Don’t cast your line if a sea turtle or marine mammal is in the area.

• Don’t discard bait or cleaned fish remains into the water, as sea turtles and marine mammals may associate the area with food.

• Never feed or attempt to feed sea turtles or marine mammals – it’s harmful and illegal!

• Release catch quietly away from marine mammals and according to state and federal fishing regulations.

For more tips from the NOAA, visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/resources-fishing/fishing-tips-protect-sea-turtles-and-marine-mammals. 

If you catch a sea turtle from the shore or from a pier, the SC DNR provides the following guidance:

• Bring the turtle to shore or get it up on the pier. Keep your hands away from the turtle's mouth and flippers.

• Support the turtle’s body weight while lifting it from the water using a large size dip net for smaller sized animals.

• Cut the line, but leave at least three feet of line attached to the hook.

• Call the SCDNR 24-Hour Hotline at 1-800-922-5431. The DNR will contact a member of the Turtle Patrol licensed for stranding response.

• Keep the turtle in the shade and cover it with a wet towel. The turtle will wander around, so it will need to be contained. Do not turn the turtle on its back.

• Remember all turtles have powerful jaws especially loggerheads (South Carolina’s most common sea turtle). Never attempt to pry a turtle’s mouth open with your hands.

• If the turtle is simply snagged and the hook can be easily removed from, remove hook and line and safely release the turtle back into the water. If the hook is embedded in the mouth or throat, contact the DNR.

For additional information, including what to do if you catch a turtle while fishing off-shore, view the SC DNR guide at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/seaturtle/volres/hookremoval.pdf.

Nest #1…in the state!

Seabrook Island logged its first nest of the season on Cinco de Mayo! Better yet, it is the first loggerhead nest in the State of South Carolina! Sandy MacCoss located the crawl, probed, and found the nest with 117 eggs between boardwalks 6 and 7. Lucy Hoover helped Sandy relocate the eggs to a safer location above the high tide line.

The nest marks the official start of loggerhead sea turtle nesting season in South Carolina, which generally runs through October. This is the second time on record that Seabrook Island has been home to the first nest in the state, with the previous time being 2014. Neighboring Kiawah Island was recently home to the first nest in the state in 2019.

Remember that sea turtles are protected by federal and local laws. You can help the Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol by adhering to the following best practices while on the beach!

·       Lights out! Turn off exterior lights and draw blinds if you live in a home along the beach. Bright lights discourage nesting and attract hatchlings away from the water. If you need to use a light on the beach, shield the light with a red lens.

·       If you see a nesting turtling or emerging hatchling, keep your distance, keep pets away, and notify the turtle patrol at 843-310-4280.

·       Stay clear of nests and out of the dunes. Sea turtle nests on our beach are marked with an orange DNR sign and white pole and are always located in areas where no one should tread. Similarly, stay out of bird nesting areas as indicated by signage.

·       Fill in any holes and level and sand structures that you make on the beach. Tiny hatchlings and big nesting mother turtles alike can become stuck in or on these excavations.

·       Remove all equipment from the beach before leaving. Items on the beach discourage nesting mothers and, in some cases, can ensnare them. If you have a permit to have a bonfire, extinguish the fire thoroughly by the required time and cover with sand.

·       Pack out any trash or food waste that you bring to the beach. Trash is dangerous when ingested and food waste attracts predators.

Help the Turtle Patrol Protect our Beach and Wildlife This Summer

Several members of the Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol spent time during Earth Week cleaning litter and debris from our beach to prepare for the arrival of the first nesting Loggerhead Sea Turtles. During the season, patrol members spend time each day to ensure our beach is as safe as it can be for both nesting females and emerging hatchlings, and there are several things that residents and visitors can do to help too!

·       Lights out! Turn off exterior lights and draw blinds if you live in a home along the beach. Bright lights discourage nesting and attract hatchlings away from the water. If you need to use a light on the beach, shield the light with a red lens.

·       If you see a nesting turtling or emerging hatchling, keep your distance, keep pets away, and notify the turtle patrol at 843-310-4280.

·       Stay clear of nests and out of the dunes. Sea turtle nests on our beach are marked with an orange DNR sign and white pole and are always located in areas where no one should tread. Similarly, stay out of bird nesting areas as indicated by signage.

·       Fill in any holes and level and sand structures that you make on the beach. Tiny hatchlings and big nesting mother turtles alike can become stuck in or on these excavations.

·       Remove all equipment from the beach before leaving. Items on the beach discourage nesting mothers and, in some cases, can ensnare them. If you have a permit to have a bonfire, extinguish the fire thoroughly by the required time and cover with sand.

·       Pack out any trash or food waste that you bring to the beach. Trash is dangerous when ingested and food waste attracts predators.

We appreciate your help in taking care of our beach and wildlife! Remember - taking good care of our planet doesn’t need to stop when we leave the beach. Check out the Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/siturtlepatrol) and Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/siturtlepatrol/) throughout the season for ideas on how to make Earth Day every day!

Turtle Patrol Season Kick-off Announcements

Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol will not be holding a 2021 Kick-Off and New Member Orientation Meeting. One of the important functions of the Kick-Off Meeting is allow volunteers to order new Turtle Patrol t-shirts and hats. This year, orders will be handled by submitting the order forms and payments directly to Bill and Linda Nelson. Current Turtle Patrol volunteers have been sent an email with detailed instructions. Any existing team member that has not received this email should reach out to hello[@]siturtlepatrol.com.

New Volunteers

The Turtle Patrol will be able to welcome new volunteers this season with some restrictions. Those interested in volunteering should email hello[@]siturtlepatrol.com for details as soon as possible as the overall t-shirt and hat order will have to be submitted by April 16th. New volunteer training this season will consist of a combination of a presentation offered remotely and on-the-beach training with experienced team members. An outline of the New Volunteer Orientation and a summary of volunteer opportunities are available under the "Information" section on the Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol website, siturtlepatrol.com.