Sea turtle monitoring, nest evaluation, and protection measures for Siesta Key 2008.

Abstract

This report summarizes activities of a project involving sea turtle monitoring by Mote Marine Laboratory's Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program for the Siesta Key shoreline in 2008, two years following construction activities for the South Siesta Key Beach Restoration Project. The Siesta Key shoreline is used as nesting habitat by sea turtles that are protected by the Marine Turtle Protection Act. Beach restoration can result in changes in beach properties and these changes may affect the nesting activity of sea turtles and the hatch and subsequent emergence success of the nests. Consequently, special conditions are included in beach construction permits to minimize impacts to the turtles, nests, and hatchlings. Special permit conditions pertaining to sea turtle monitoring activities included daily dawn sea turtle nest surveys, nest relocations and nest caging activities. This report summarizes the data collected in 2008.