First leatherback turtle hatchlings sighted at Trinidad’s Maracas Beach

Trinidad and Tobago: The first leather-back turtle hatchlings on the Maracas Beach in Trinidad occurred on Monday morning with several baby turtles successfully making their way towards the sea.

The members of the Urban Development Corporation (Udecott) at the Maracas Beach Facility captured the first leatherback turtle hatchlings as they emerged from their nesting site and headed for the waters.

The sea turtle nesting season began on March 1 and runs until August 31. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, all five species of marine turtles visits Trinidad and Tobago shores including the leatherback turtle, green turtle, loggerhead, olive ridley and hawksbill and they are all protected by law.

As such, the Ministry is urging beach goers to exercise extreme caution and refrain from participating in activities which may interrupt with their nesting such as biking or driving vehicles on the beach, building sand castles or even mining the area.

People are also asked to avoid the usage of flambos, headlights, fires or any bright lights near the shoreline at night. Above all, the visitors are reminded that they must refrain from sitting on the turtles as this can cause serious harm to their organs, which may even result in death.

In Trinidad and Tobago, the penalties for causing harm to sea turtles includes a fine of $100,000 as well as two years of imprisonment.

While asking the citizens and visitors to refrain from such activities, Udecott outlined, “Trinidad and Tobago is truly blessed to be one of the chosen nesting sites that these marvels still visit each year, so let’s all do our part to keep our environment clean and inviting for generations to come.”

Also, the staff of Udecott and environment protection are always around the beach areas to ensure that no harm is done with this species.

People can watch them and click pictures of them while maintaining a healthy distance throughout the sea turtle nesting season in Trinidad and Tobago.