World Sea Turtle Day - Sunday 16 June 2024

World Sea Turtle Day is an annual worldwide event and was celebrated throughout the world last weekend on 16 June 2024. World Sea Turtle Day was set up as a reminder to reduce the damage to the marine environment and to be mindful when near turtles, either swimming or on boats or watercrafts.

Just one month ago, we celebrated World Turtle Day on 23 May 2024 which was an awareness day set up to protect the habitats of turtles and tortoises.

World Turtle Day and World Sea Turtle Day are both dedicated to raising awareness about these fascinating creatures, but they have different origins and focus on different types of turtles. Both days serve as reminders to appreciate and safeguard these ancient and remarkable reptiles!

World Turtle Day is observed annually on May 23^rd and was created in 2000 by American tortoise Rescue, World Turtle Day aims to celebrate and protect turtles and tortoise and their habitats.

World Sea Turtle Day is celebrated on June 16^th, which is also the birthday of Dr Archie Carr. Dr Carr is known as the “father of sea turtle biology” significantly contributed to sea turtle conservation.

Here on Norfolk Island, we are truly fortunate to have sea turtles around our coastal bays and lagoon. It is always fun to stand on a cliff top looking for turtles in the water below, and Captain Cook Reserve viewing area is a wonderful place to see sea turtles when they surface in the crystal-clear water around the coastal Islets. The most common turtle seen around Norfolk Island coastal areas is the green turtle.

I have learnt about the local Norfolk Island sea turtles from members of the Norfolk Island Flora and Fauna Society. Thank you, Margaret Christian, and Mark Hallam for sharing your knowledge. Also, the wealth of knowledge that Kellie Pendoley has shared, helping me learn about green turtles that live in the lagoons at Kingston. Early 2024, Kellie Pendoley, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Sea Turtle Society at the 42nd Sea Turtle Symposium in Pattaya, Thailand. Kellie is an inspiration with her conservation work with Turtles and protecting our Dark Skies and has supported and encouraged myself and others to protect our Norfolk Island Magical Dark Skies.

When snorkelling around the Kingston lagoons coral reefs it is always exciting to see sea turtles, the first sea turtle I saw swimming was so graceful and looked like a bird flying. Sometimes I find sea turtles sleeping or resting on the sandy floor at the base of the coral reefs. A few years ago, in 2015, I enjoy watching a lovely old large turtle with three flippers, and I named this turtle “Tripod the Old Dude”. I have photographed and videoed turtles in Emily Bay and in 2018 I enjoyed a regular sighting of a friendly turtle, but many of the turtles I see scatter away when they are disturbed by swimmers.

In 2022, a sick green turtle, who was named Doris, was found in Emily Bay, unwell and underweight. With the support of Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre specialist staff, Norfolk Island National Parks staff, Norfolk Island Marine Parks Officer, Australia Marine Department and many local helpers and volunteers who supported Doris, with changing her water, feeding her, cleaning her infected skin and shell, and keeping a close eye on this special turtle. As her health improved and she put weight back-on Doris was returned to the ocean where she swam back to Emily Bay. From time-to-time Doris has been spotted with her id tags. Thank you, all the people who have cared for Doris the Turtle, Hannah Taylor and your staff, Norfolk Island National Parks Staff, helpers, the dedicated volunteers, and the many others offshore supporters and advisers.

Our rubbish should not be part of the marine food chain, which is why it is important to recycle, dispose of rubbish responsibly and reduce the use of plastic products. Sea turtles are impacted by plastics and rubbish in the water, along with fishing lines and nets and other pollutants chemicals, oil spoils, sewage, the list is long. Sea turtles eat jelly fish, so they easily mistake plastic as food and rescue teams across the world attempt to assist turtles which are sick from eating plastic products.

Climate change is also impacting the life cycle of sea turtles, with water level rising, breeding grounds effected, and I have also read that during warmer temperatures, many eggs hatch as females and male turtle numbers are decreasing. I have learnt that turtles do not lay eggs on Norfolk Island, as we are a sub-tropical climate. The sea turtles appear to spend their teenage years in the waters around Norfolk Island. Turtles were recorded at Emily Bay, by the First Fleeters when they first arrived on Norfolk Island in 1788, and Emily Bay was first named Turtle Bay.

World Sea Turtle Day: A tribute to resilience and conservation - Earth.com

On June 16th, World Sea Turtle Day is celebrated globally, not only as a way to honour sea turtles but also to mark the birth of a legendary figure in sea turtle conservation, Dr. Archie Carr. These creatures have graced our shores for millions of years, but honouring sea turtles today holds special significance, as their very existence faces serious threats.

Sea turtles have been known to capture imaginations with their beauty and grace. These majestic marine reptiles are also essential for the health of marine ecosystems. For example, green sea turtles primarily feed on seagrasses. By grazing, they help to keep the seagrass beds healthy.

WORLD SEA TURTLE DAY - June 16, 2024 - National Today

World Sea Turtle Day is celebrated every year on June 16 to raise awareness about the plight of sea turtles. Did you know that every year, about eight tonnes of plastic are dumped in our oceans? That is extremely hazardous to sea turtles, so much so that six out of eight marine turtle species are on the verge of extinction. There are many other threats to sea turtles, such as encroachment of coastal development on nesting beaches, marine pollutants, accidental drowning on fishing gear, and the international turtle meat trade. Join hands with us to raise awareness about this important issue and save lives.

HISTORY OF WORLD SEA TURTLE DAY

World Sea Turtle Day is observed on July 16, the birthday of Dr. Archie Carr, known as the “father of sea turtle biology.” Dr. Carr is well-known for devoting his entire career to the research and conservation of sea turtles. Sea turtles are among the oldest creatures on Earth, having remained ‌unchanged for 110 million years. Most information on these creatures has focused on their nesting females and hatchlings, but new research techniques, such as satellite tracking technology, have allowed scientists to gain insights into their lives.

During summers, turtles follow an ancient reproductive ritual, in which the female leaves the sea and crawls to shore to dig a nest in the sand. The female turtle uses her rear flippers to dig the nest hole and then lays about 100 eggs. After laying the eggs, the turtle covers them and camouflages the nest site before returning to the ocean. Nesting turtles may return to the nesting site for laying eggs several times and usually nest every two to three years.

Temperature has a significant impact on the sea turtle sex ratio. Warmer temperatures produce more females, while cooler temperatures are found to produce more males. Eggs hatch after an incubation of two months. The hatching moves towards the sea in the night by using the bright view of the night sky. Artificial lights can distract the hatchlings from finding their way to the ocean.

I feel very privileged to see sea turtles and watch them in their Norfolk Island underwater world. During the past summer there have been a few different green turtles sighted in the lagoon at Kingston and a few have been named, there is Doris, she has an id tag, Honu has a distinctive algae spot on the shell and another lovely turtle was recently named Tola. In March 2024, I felt privileged to capture two turtles in one photograph. During the summer 2024 Susan Prior also spotted a young Hawksbill Turtle in the Kingston lagoon. Susan also shares many lovely images of turtles on Facebook, NORFOLK ISLAND TIME.

In 2018 I started a Norfolk Island Turtle Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Norfolk-Island-Turtles-2030986883818607 which now has about 851 followers and I enjoy sharing turtle images to the page.

Here are a few images of green turtles in Emily Bay and the Kingston lagoon.

Betty Matthews

21 June 2024