The Hawksbill turtle we saw laying eggs on our beach at Anse Chastanet on June 29th has produced some baby turtles. Nature guide Meno found these egg shells on the beach this morning during his daily beach walk.  Female hawksbills return to their natal beaches every 2-3 years to nest during the months of June through November. On some beaches they prefer to dig their nest chambers in dense beachside vegetation or beneath giant sea grape trees. Females will lay an average of 4-5 clutches during the season at about 14-day intervals. Hatchlings emerge at night and make their way to the sea, if undisturbed by artificial beachfront lighting. Here at Anse Chastanet- we use only flame torches on the beach which are extinguished after all guests finish their dining experience. It is great to see new life in the turtle world as Hawksbill and other species of turtles are listed as critically endangered because of their beautiful shell. They have been hunted for hundreds of years in huge numbers for the “tortoise shell” that is used in many types of jewelry and trinkets. It is known that harvesting for their shell has resulted in many fewer hawksbill turtles than there were historically. This has been the major cause of the decline in hawksbill populations throughout the world. Hawksbill turtles are also hunted, but to a much lesser degree, for leather, meat, oil, perfume, and for ingredients used in cosmetics. Since hawksbills nest on beautiful tropical beaches, their nesting habitat is often developed for tourism and recreation. Construction of houses on or near beaches, beach cleaning, beachfront lighting, and removal of important beach vegetation can reduce the number of successful nests. The destruction or disturbance of coral reef habitats can also destroy their food source (sponges) as well as important resting habitat. Like other sea turtles, hawksbills also become entangled and drown in commercial and recreational fishing gear and marine debris. One surprising threat to sea turtles is the balloons that people let go. These balloons often float over the ocean before popping, and sea turtles can choke on the pieces of the balloon that fall into the water. Floating balloons look like jellyfish to sea turtles.

We hope to see the next clutch personally as they make their way to the ocean ! 

If you want to learn more about turtles and aquatic life when you visit, contact us to do the Project Aware courses we offer here at the dive centre! Check out www.scubastlucia.com for more info!