THE HAWKSBILL

SEA TURTLE
GROUP MEMBERS:
KADEEM DE SHONG
DARRON FARRELL
BRIENNA JACK
CHRISTENE BROWNE
ECOSYSTEM: MARINE

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
HAWKSBILL SEA TURTLE

Common Name: Hawksbill Sea

Turtle

Average Lifespan in The Wild: 30

to 50 years

Scientific Name: Eretmochelys

imbricata

Size: 24 to 45 inches

Average Weight: 45-68 kg

Reef Turtles

Type: Reptile

Diet: Carnivore

POPULATION

One of the worlds most critically endangered species.

The largest populations inhabit the Caribbean Sea.

There is no way to know exactly how many Hawksbill Turtles are in

SVG waters, however facts can be stated based on information from
the Bequia Turtle Sanctuary and Tobago Cays Marine Park:

Over 11000 turtles have been released by the Old Hegg Turtle
Sanctuary in Bequia since 1995, with a larger portion of turtles being
Hawksbill. They are released at ages 6-7.

As of 2012, during the first round of monitoring, 7 Hawksbill turtles

were tagged in the Tobago Cays. During the second round, one
Hawksbill turtle was tagged. Since then, there has been a steady
increase in the number of turtles tagged.

Only an estimated 1 in 1000 turtles would survive to adulthood.

Other nesting areas in SVG: Industry Bay, Spring Bay, Friendship Bay
etc.

Habitat

Primarily found in tropical coral reefs.

Examples:

1.

They are found in Bequia, along the gently sloping reefs.

2.

Can be found at the Ole Hegg Turtle Sanctuary in Bequia.

3.

Few can be found along the Horseshoe Reef which protects four
of the five Tobago Cays.

4.

Found at the Baradal Turtle Sanctuary in the Tobago Cays.

Of all species of turtles, the hawksbill is the one most associated

with warm waters.

Importance to Ecosystem

Hawksbill turtles play a very important role in the reef community

where they maintain the health of coral reefs by aiding in the growth
of coral.

By consuming the sponges off of the hard coral, these turtles ensure
that these sponges do not suffocate the reefs, therefore dominating
the growth of corals.

As they remove prey such as sponges from the reefs surface, they
provide better access for reef fish to feed.

These sea turtles provide a home to barnacles, algae and other

organisms known as epibionts, which are then used as a source of
food for some species such as fish and shrimp.

Play a great role in boosting Tourism by providing a great attraction to

tourists who come to observe these endangered turtles. This in turn,
benefits the economy of St Vincent and the Grenadines as a whole as
it is a vital source of income.

MAJOR THREATS TO THESE

CREATURES

Each year, hundreds of Hawksbill hatchling turtles emerge from

their nests off the various coasts of St. Vincent and the
Grenadines and enter the Caribbean sea.

Besides facing the natural threat of being eaten by Invasive

Predators, most of the turtles are either slaughtered by humans
for their shells, meat etc, they face habitat destruction or even
climate change affects their nesting sites.

The natural obstacles faced by these sea turtles are staggering,

but it is the increasing threats caused by humans that are driving
them to extinction.

1. Human Based Threats

Turtle feeding grounds such as coral reefs are being damaged

and destroyed by activities onshore.

Contributing to this are:

Oil spills- Oil spills and urban runoff from chemicals all contribute
to water pollution. Because the sea is so large, many incorrectly
assume that pollutants will be diluted and dispersed to safe
levels, but in reality, the toxins released from these pollutants
become more concentrated as they break down in size. As a
result, these smaller, more toxic particles become food for many
links in the food chain, including sea turtles.

Marine Debris- Thousands of sea turtles accidentally swallow

plastics, mistaking them for food. Ingestion of these plastics can
cause blockages within their digestive systems and eventual
death.

Feeding Habitats Disappear

Fishing gear accidentally captures hundreds of sea turtles each

year in the Caribbean. This capture is called by-catch.

Marine Pollution- This can have serious impact on hawksbill sea

turtles and the food they eat.

For example, new research suggests that a disease now killing

many sea turtles (fibropapillomas) may be linked to pollution in
nearshore waters.

When pollution contaminates and kills aquatic plant and animal

life, it also destroys feeding habitats for turtles.

2. Climate Change

This affects this species through habitat loss, physiological

changes and loss of prey.

Weather extremes, also linked to climate change, mean more

frequent storms (E.g Tropical Storm Matthew and Hurricane
Tomas), which would alter nesting beaches for the turtles, cause
beach erosions or flood turtle nests.

Hotter sand, from increasing temperatures in St Vincent and the

Grenadines, results in decreased hatching rates or complete nest
failure.

Warmer water temperatures also affect the Islands coral reefs by

causing coral bleaching, which are vital to Hawksbill Turtles
survival.

Higher temperatures can adversely affect sea turtles gender

ratio. Therefore since we live in the tropics, increasing incubation
temperatures could result in more female sea turtles, which
reduces
diversity.

reproductive

opportunities

and

decreases

genetic

3. Artificial Lighting

Nesting turtles depend on dark, quiet beaches to reproduce

successfully.

For example, in the Tobago Cays, only red light can be shone on
the turtles as white light can discourage female turtles from
nesting. The sea turtles are also least attracted to the red
wavelength, so less distractions.

Moreover, near-shore lighting can cause sea turtle hatchlings to

become disoriented when they are born. Instead, they will
wander inland where they often die of dehydration or predation.

STRATEGIES TO PREVENT
EXTINCTION
Protecting Hawksbill Sea Turtle Habitat- The
1.

government can
strengthen legislation and provide funding for sea turtle protection.
Establishing Marine protected areas can ensure the safety of the
turtle; safe place to nest, feed and migrate freely. This can create jobs
where persons can monitor turtle nests and ecotourism would be
strengthened in St. Vincent. Examples of nesting grounds in SVG
include Bequia and Bloody Bay, Union.

2.

Closures of certain areas to fishing during the nesting and hatching

seasons.

3.

Open fishing season for the Hawksbill sea turtles in SVG where gill
nets are used instead of hook and line.

4.

Capacity Building for Conservation of Sea Turtles in SVG- These

educational buildings can help to increase awareness and build
capacity at a community and national level in Marine Turtle
Conservation.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

THE END!!!