This is a special encounter with nature, which I have had the good fortune to witness on a number of occasions living very near one of the most active beaches for nesting turtles in the area.

Being a professional scuba diver I have observed turtles swimming in the sea on many occasions and on some occasions was lucky enough to swim with them, as pictured below. To encounter these special endangered sea creatures on the land has been an added treat in my experiences with sea turtles.

One of the most exclusive resorts in the Caribbean Sea, Jumby Bay, located on a private island off the shores of Antigua, has a unique claim to fame; its own resident population of several hundred endangered hawksbill sea turtles.

These turtles were most likely born on the same beach where they return to nest, as this is the practice of sea turtles. Only females come ashore to nest; males rarely return to land after crawling into the sea as hatchlings.

Since the Jumby Bay Hawksbill Conservation Project officially began in 1987 under the aegis of the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), scientific direction has been provided by Dr. James Richardson of the Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia. Seth Stapleton, a turtle researcher on the site at Jumby Bay for several years, along with his wife, Carol, is now the Director.

The idea began in 1986 when conservation-minded John Fuller of Antigua noticed the large concentration of hawksbills nesting on Pasture Bay, a small (500 meters long) sandy beach located on the north side of the then called Long Island. Fuller contacted Richardson, a world-renowned sea turtle expert. It was acknowledged that this was a unique nesting ground, and it would later be confirmed as one of the highest concentrations of nesting hawksbills in the Caribbean (representing about a third of all nesting hawksbills on Antigua). Thus was born, on this small island, the start of what would become a long time love affair between turtles and turtle watchers.

For the past 17 years two young field biologists have been assigned to patrol the 500-meter beach, Pasture Bay Beach, throughout the night, every night, on the hour, for 153 nights between June and November. They look for crawl marks (tracks) in the sand made by mature females (about 20 – 30 years old) who have come ashore to lay their eggs and then to document needed data. When a turtle is spotted, a judgment is immediately made regarding the biologists’ approach. If they frighten the turtle, she may return to the water without laying her eggs.Once she has dug her nest and begun laying she goes into somewhat of a ‘trance’ and can be approached and observed without disturbing her.

Basic biologic date is then collected such as carapace (shell) length, number of eggs laid, and a map of the barnacles on her shell. If she is not already tagged, an identification tag is attached to her front flipper. If the turtle is tagged from previous years, tag numbers are noted. Nest locations are recorded so that observations can be recorded during the 55 – 60 day incubation. Several days after natural hatching, the nests are excavated to determine success and release any “stragglers”. Data accumulated helps show population changes.

Late July through September is the peak nesting time; the turtles typically lay four to five times during the season, with a two-week break in between nests. One turtle was recorded as nesting seven times in one season. About 150 eggs are laid in each nest, but an estimated 1 in 1000-3000 hatchlings survive to reproductive age. The hawksbill population worldwide has been threatened mainly by over-harvesting, the collection (often illegal) of eggs, and the loss of nesting habitat. Historically, hawksbills have been harvested for their beautiful scutes (the plates that cover the shell), which have traditionally been made into “tortoiseshell” jewelry and trinkets. International trade in tortoiseshell is now banned and hawksbills are listed as Endangered under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). Tortoiseshell trinkets are still available, however, in some countries and tourists should be very careful not to purchase them as it is illegal to transport any sea turtle product across international borders.

The project is supported and funded by the Jumby Bay Island Company. In addition to the turtle researchers observing the nesting turtles, the Antigua and Barbuda Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) sponsors excursions to view the nesting during the season. The guests of the Jumby Bay Resort may also join in the outings.

The author first wrote about this project in the LIAT ISLANDER in December 1990. The project was only 3 years old. At that time this was one of the first pieces published in a travel magazine on these beautiful, ancient reptiles. In that article it was questioned whether human and turtle could share the same beach; if the turtles could survive alongside tourists enjoying the beach for a different purpose. After all of these years the answer is an emphatic YES, as this one of the most successful and most scientifically meaningful turtle projects in the world.

It is also the longest running tagging project on hawksbill turtles worldwide. Reports on the project are regularly presented to the global scientific community. Thanks to this small beach, our understanding of these magnificent creatures and what is needed to help safeguard them (and hopefully prevent them from eradication), will help future generations enjoy the turtles and continue this important work.

TO learn more log on to www.jbhp.org

To visit the site contact the Environmental Awareness Group of Antigua and Barbuda (EAG) at eag@candw.ag or telephone 268-462-6236

The author would like to thank the Director of The Jumby Bay Hawksbill Conservation Project, Seth Stapleton, Dr. Jim Richardson (University of Georgia), and Dr. Karen Eckert (WIDECAST) for their comments, encouragement, and research help in numerous articles on the project.

Martha Watkins Gilkes is an avid protector of the environment, focusing on marine related conservation. She has written two books on scuba diving published by Macmillan (Divers Guide to the Eastern Caribbean and Shipwrecks of the Caribbean)

She is an advocate of dolphin freedom and promotes keeping Caribbean dolphins in the wild. For her conservation work she has been presented the WYLAND ICON AWARD, The Beneath the Sea DIVER OF THE YEAR/ ENVIRONMENT and has been recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme in Who’s Who of Women and the Environment.