The Saint-Martin Nature Reserve is organizing an information meeting this Friday, March 13 at 18 p.m. in its premises at Hope Estate (see access map attached) for the discovery of sea turtles of Saint-Martin, training in scientific monitoring and registrations for egg-laying surveillance patrols.
This 2020 season was therefore inaugurated by a leatherback turtle that came to lay the night of Sunday, March 1 to Monday, March 2, on the beach of Orient Bay. Contacted by the managers of the beach restaurant in front of which the largest sea turtle made its nest, the Nature Reserve was able to educate restaurant employees and mark the nest to avoid threats (planting of parasol, movement of heavy equipment, …).
We remind you of the good gestures to have in case of encounter with a sea turtle laying eggs on the beach:
- Stay away at least 10 meters from the animal, do not get closer;
- Do not light the animal, even with a camera flash;
- Be as discreet as possible, do not make noise;
- Contact the Nature Reserve, Aude +590 690 47 02 13 or Julien +590 690 34 77 10.
Remember that sea turtles are protected animals throughout France and that as such any intentional disturbance may expose them to prosecution. In the absence of disturbance, only 1 turtle in 1 will become an adult, while the slightest stress during this critical phase can lead to failure to lay or even destruction of the eggs. As a reminder, less than 000 leatherback turtles come to lay eggs each year on the French beaches of Saint Martin, for a total annual number of 10 to 150 traces of spawning of all species. Thank you for contributing to the preservation of these emblematic species by adopting the right reflexes.
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