Sea Turtle Conservation

Ecological Concerns

In the world of sea turtle conservation, experts know that there are many factors which can affect the ability of these gentle creatures to successfully mature to adulthood and to eventually ensure the future of their species.

Spring Break crowds at South Padre Island
Spring Break on the beaches
of South Padre Island

As the 2009 nesting season began in April, there was much interest among scientists and researchers about the impact of 2008's devastating hurricanes, recent beach renourishment project, and tourist activity on sea turtle nesting behavior. Just how much of an impact awaits to be seen but experts are watching closely.

There are also global environmental issues such as changes in the earth's ocean temperatures and shifts in weather patterns which play a role in the turtles' fate.

Hurricane Dolly makes landfall near South Padre Island in July of 2008 When Dolly made landfall on July 23, 2008 as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 mph, she caused substantial damage, adding to the ongoing beach erosion on South Padre Island. Less than a month afterward, Hurricane Ike roared into the region, making the situation even worse.

In response to these especially destructive hurricanes, efforts were underway late in January of 2009 to dredge sand in from the bay side of South Padre Island to the storm-facing Gulf beaches in order to fight the beach erosion which has gradually claimed more and more of this barrier island's shoreline over the years.

Beach renoursihment project on South Padre Island's beaches

According to Andre Landry of the Sea Turtle and Fisheries Ecology Research Lab Texas A&M University at Galveston, it is important for "sea turtle lovers, the regulatory community and beach goers to document nesting events and changes in the integrity of beaches, especially that of our dune systems. A growing need for 2010 and beyond is funding for sea turtle nesting patrols."

Students Helping Turtles

They arrived in March, during the Spring Break holiday from school, to enjoy the beaches of South Padre Island, but one group of students from Dallas took time from their vacation to help the sea turtles. After learning about the dangers which debris on the beach pose to the sea turtles when they return each April
to nest, they enthusiastically joined in
the effort to clean up the beach so as to make it safe for this year's Kemp's ridley nesters. Thanks to them, the turtles will face one less obstacle once they reach shore.

Students celebrating Spring Break on South Padre Island help clean the beach to help the sea turtles