Surfrider Foundation: Rincón, Puerto Rico

NATURAL RESOURCES

Coral Reef | Sea Turtles | Whales

Sea Turtles:

There are at least two types of sea turtles found in the Steps and Tres Palmas area, including Hawksbill and Leatherback.

The Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) Spanish Name: Carey de Concha

The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a threatened species and is protected under the following listings:

CITES: Appendix I Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
ESA: Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act
IUCN: Critically Endangered International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

Life History:
Females come to shore for nesting and lay 4-5 clutches at two-week intervals, each containing approximately 150 eggs. Eggs incubate during 50-70 days in the warm sands and usually hatch at night. Hatchlings crawl to the sea and the pelagic phase occurs in floating Sargassum mats converging in the Atlantic Ocean (pelagic open water, deep ocean habitat).

At approximately 20-25 cm (SCL) young juveniles (estimated at 1-3 Yr. old) establish in shallow coastal (neritic) habitats. Growth to adult size is presumed to occur along islands and mainland coasts, where they feed until continuing with their mating or nesting migrations. Adult nesting females estimated to be 10 -20 years old may be 65 cm (SCL) or larger.

While some of these turtles are threatened by poaching and entanglement in drift nets, a major threat to the Hawksbill Sea Turtle is the destruction of large amounts of nesting habitat by tourist/residential projects, such as those proposed in Rincón. Furthermore, these developments pose an additional risk as there lights attract hatchlings away from the beach where they become stranded from the marine environment and left to die.

Reference: Michelle Sharer, January 2002

Here's the entire report.

For more information on sea turtles visit: http://www.seaturtle.org

The Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

Leatherback Sea Turtles and their nests have also been identified at Maria's Beach and at Tres Palmas as reported in Marine Turtle Nesting in Western Puerto Rico, Final Report for the Cooperative Agreement between The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Sea Grant College Program, University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus. Coop. Agreement NO. 1448-0004-93-929 Submitted by: Kathleen V. Hall.

Leather Back Turtles have been listed as and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) since June 2, 1970.

Life History:
The Leatherback Sea Turtle acquired its name from its leathery textured skin. Unlike most sea turtles, the Leatherback does not have scales. It is distinguished by a black or dark-brown carapace containing a few white or yellow blotches. This carapace also has seven ridges that run longitudinally from the head to the tail. Because of the great size of this animal, the neck and limbs are enormous. The two front flippers are powerful enough to travel great distances. The Leatherback, unlike other sea turtles, does not have claws on its flippers. This sea turtle is noted for being the largest of all sea turtles ever discovered. The smallest Leatherback can weight a minimum of 640 pounds and a maximum of 1,300 pounds. The largest Leatherback ever recorded was almost 3 meters (10 feet) long from his nose across the curve of the shell to his tail. However, this is not true for all Leatherbacks; the average is 61 inches.

The Leatherback prefers to stay close to the continental shelf, for nesting purposes. Sandy beaches are ideal nesting spots for the Leatherbacks. The sand must be deep enough for the female to produce a suitable nest. Because of the Leatherback's size, deep water and rough seas are important to aid in locomotion.

The decrease in the Leatherback's population is mainly due to human's destruction. For example: pollution, plastic being mistaken for food, commercial shrimping and fishing trawlers and drift nets. Another concern is the artificial light found at the popular nesting beaches of the Leatherback Sea Turtle. This light tends to lead the hatchlings toward the light and away from the sea. This leaves the young turtles vulnerable to humans.

Reference:

Marine Turtle Nesting in Western Puerto Rico, Final Report for the Cooperative Agreement between The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Sea Grant College Program, University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus. Coop. Agreement NO. 1448-0004-93-929 Submitted by: Kathleen V. Hall.

For more information on sea turtles visit: http://www.seaturtle.org

For more information on Leatherback turtles, see:
http://www.orecity.k12.or.us/ochs/departments/
science/species/Leatherback_SeaTurtle.html
and
http://www.cccturtle.org

Coral Reef | Sea Turtles | Whales

A young hawksbill turtle enjoys a swim through the Elkhorn Steps

turtle

This young hawksbill turtle ponders the future of Steps Reef

Leatherback turtle

A Leatherback heads up the beach to lay her eggs. Photo credit: Dr. Llew Erhhart (Caribbean Conservation Corps)