EcoHotelology

CC Photo by Leonard Low.

If your hotel is located on or near the sea or ocean, your local beaches may be a nesting ground for sea turtles from May to September, roughly. What to do? Will you recommend turtle tours to your guests, or will you encourage them to visit the beach by themselves, without an organized group, to do their viewing? Or will you just ask them to please leave the turtles alone?

First off, all species of sea turtles are listed as threatened or endangered. There are only seven living species left of sea turtles: flatback, green sea turtle, Hawksbill, Kemp’s Ridley, Leatherback, Loggerhead, and Olive Ridley. As always, the importance of sea turtles affects an intricate ecosystem in which they are just one part. Their well being affects the growth of sea grass, other marine life, as well as beach and dune vegetation.

The nesting procedure is as follows: after mating at sea, the female turtle swims to the beach at nighttime to dig a deep nest with her flippers, then lay her eggs, finally covering them with sand. Afterward, she will crawl slowly back to the water and swim out to sea, leaving the nest unattended. Fifty to sixty days later, the baby turtles hatch and make their way directly to the sea.

The best thing to do if you have a hotel in a turtle nesting area is to educate both staff and guests. The best rule of thumb is to keep your distance, always. In water and on land, our presence can be stressful to them and may interrupt their reproductive cycle, which is tragic because although each female lays between 100 and 150 eggs in each nest, only a very small percentage of all hatchlings actually make it to the sea, and even fewer reach adulthood.

What the hotel can do (if your hotel is located right on the beach):

• When installing beach illumination (if absolutely necessary), all lighting should face toward land, not toward the sea and should preferably be red or amber colored. All lighting should be turned off during nesting and hatching season as it may distract both female turtles and their hatchlings.
• Clear all objects (beach chairs, water toys, kayaks, etc.) from the beach at sunset. They might obstruct the path of turtles.
• Be sure to keep the beach extra clean, raking to remove organic debris and removing all trash. Staff should make an extra beach cleaning run before sunsetto remove any obstacles that may hinder a turtle’s nesting.
• Each beach may have many nests, and hotel staff  should inspect and mark each nest with sticks pushed into the sand around the nest area.
• Identified nests should also be monitored for disturbance. If any hotel staff sees anyone near a nest, that staff member should immediately request that the person keep his/her distance from the nest, and report the incident to management.
• Never, ever accept turtle eggs or meat to eat, sell, or use in any way. Do not tolerate the selling of  souvenirs made from turtles on your hotel property, such as turtle skin bags or turtle shell jewelry.
• Educate guests! Be sure to print up a quick list of guidelines such as the ones below, and make sure staff are fully informed as well, so they know how to act and can share the information and answer questions if needed.

When on land:

• Caution should be exercised when walking along the beach to prevent stepping on nests. Avoid stepping near mounds, indentations in the sand, or areas marked with sticks and/or signs.
• If walking along the beach at night, try to get by with just the moonlight. If you absolutely must use a flashlight, please be sure to bring a red paper or plastic cover to soften the light.
• Never, ever point a flashlight or any light source directly at a turtle. This includes taking photos with a flash.
• If you see a turtle nesting at night on the beach, keep quiet. Talk only if necessary, and always in a whisper. Avoid all excessive noise at night from 11:00  p.m. until sunrise during the nesting season.
• When you visiting the beach, please collaborate by picking up trash, even if it’s not yours.
• If you come across disoriented hatchlings (they generally follow the moon’s reflection on the water to head to the sea), please gentlyhelp them find their own way toward the sea.  Do not release them directly into the water, because contact with the sand is their method to find their way back to their birthing beach again when it’s their time to nest as adults.
• Don’t even consider saving a hatchling to take home with you. It’s a federal offense in many countries to do so.
• Do not eat or accept turtle eggs or meat for any other usage. Do not purchase souvenirs made from turtles, such as turtle skin bags or turtle shell jewelry.

When swimming in the sea:

• Don’t touch or harass turtles if you see them in the water. Try to keep at least two yards/meters distance from them.
• Don’t swim on top of them. Keep in mind that turtles must surface to breathe air, and if they sense they are trapped underwater this can be stressful.
• Avoid night diving and snorkel tours during the turtle nesting and hatching season.

Turtle season can be very educational for both hotel staff and guests. It’s a great opportunity to learn about marine life and to protect your underwater neighbors.