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With turtle nesting season set to begin Friday, two geotagged turtles have already been identified as heading to T&T’s shores.
The leatherback turtle season is locally considered to be from March 1 through the end of August and environmentalists are hoping the remnants of the oil spill of the coast of Tobago will be mopped up before turtles reach T&T’s shores.
“From the trajectory of the oil spill it appears that none of our major nesting beaches will be impacted directly by the oil, but as the oil drifts on the surface of the sea, sea turtles can come into direct contact with it along their migratory route.
“As the oil floats on the surface of the sea, turtles can come into contact with it when surfacing to breathe. They can inhale fumes, and get coated with oil around their eyes, and nares, as well as potentially ingest some.
“Oil can have toxic effects on sea turtle physiology depending on many factors, including the composition of the oil and the duration of exposure. It is difficult to predict the extent of the impact. The good thing is that I believe it has been identified as lighter fuel oil rather than a heavier oil, and it is likely to disperse and weather while at sea – this will reduce its potential impact. The nesting season for leatherbacks is about to begin and we do have some turtles in the region already,” said Dr Michelle Cazabon-Mannette, Director, SpeSeas and Technical Advisor to Save Our Sea turtles (SOS) Tobago.
“This is the time of the year when the bulk of nesting is observed but we can have a few nests laid earlier than this and later than this. Adults can arrive near our shores at least a month before nesting is typically observed. Mike James (a Canada based reasearcher who satellite tracks turtles in the region) has confirmed that at least two of the female leatherback turtles he is currently tracking with satellite transmitters are in the area at the moment.
“Leatherbacks travel great distances (thousands of kilometres) and spend a lot of their time in temperate waters such as off Nova Scotia Canada. Satellite tracking studies show the leatherbacks nesting in T&T often travel south to the tropics to the east of T&T and then approach from the east. Leatherbacks also nest in other parts of the region including the South American coastline and the other Caribbean islands. Hawksbill turtles also nest around T&T in significant numbers – though less than the leatherbacks. Their local nesting season is typically June through November. They can travel here from feeding grounds at coral reefs within the Wider Caribbean region,” she added
Cazabon-Mannette observed that the extent of the impacts of the spill remains to be seen and is difficult to predict.
“We must take urgent action to stop the leak and continue cleanup operations. I expect the greatest impact will be along the shoreline of Tobago where oil has beached and been lingering close to the shore in the shallows. This includes vulnerable habitats such as the lagoon at Petit Trou where oil has coated the mangroves. This lagoon is also home to juvenile green sea turtles and vulnerable birds. Juvenile hawksbill turtles and some greens also live along the coastline in the coral reef and seagrass habitats in the area.
“These sea turtles are resident in the area and are likely to be exposed to the oil over a longer time – going on over two weeks now already. Cleanup of the mangrove will be particularly challening and means that some oil may remain in this area for an extended period of time.
“There is some hawksbill turtle nesting on beaches along this coast, at the Magdalena Grand and at Kilgwyn. We have some time to ensure these beaches are cleaned before hawksbill nesting starts – usually in May or June. But care must be taken to ensure the cleanup operations do not remove too much sand and have any other negative impacts on the beach as well.
“To date I have not heard about any sea turtles stranding as a result of interaction with oil, but we should be on the alert for sea turtles and birds that may be impacted by the oil. The shipwreck itself has directly physically damaged the vulnerable coral reef and removal of the ship must be done carefully to minimise any further impact,” she said.
Cazabon-Mannette explained that any oil spill has potential for significant negative impacts on the environment.
“Swift action is needed to stop the leaking oil and cleanup any impacted areas. The location of the spill has proved challenging as it is close to shore in rough waters where booms are largely ineffective. Efforts should continue to try to plug the leak and cleanup the oil along the shores of Tobago as far as possible.
“Unfortunately I don’t think anything can be done about the oil that is already dispersed to the west of Tobago, but at least I believe it has been confirmed as a lighter fuel oil which is expected to weather and dissipate fairly quickly. The satellite imagery has also shown that the slick is shrinking.
“With the current trajectory I think it is unlikely that the oil will impact the shores of any of our neighbours. But sea turtles, marine mammals, and sea birds moving in the area could be impacted. These species are most vulnerable because they spend time at the surface of the water and are more likely to encounter oil. This can include sea turtles on their way to nest at other beaches in the region,” she said.
Last week, former director of the Environment Management Authority (EMA)Allan Bachan warned that apart from significant environmental damage, local economies and recreation might also be severely impacted. He said oil spills can cause closures of beaches, as well as recreational and commercial fisheries.
“This is my current concern in Tobago is that Turtle season is upon us which begins in March. The migratory Leatherbacks are in our waters. How will this affect nesting on the beaches and later the hatchlings? Our resident hardshell sea turtles depend on the reefs and sea grass beds for their food. Livelihood from turtle watching can be impacted,” he warned.
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