JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — While beaches in Northeast Florida are currently closed to stop the spread of COVID-19, less foot traffic may be helping the environment thrive.
As sea turtle nesting season approaches, Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol Director Jennifer Burns and her workers look for signs of sea turtles along the shore.
But this year, Burns doesn’t know when they will be able to search the beach to protect nesting sea turtles and their eggs.
Sea turtle nesting season is from May 1 to October 31.
For live updates on the coronavirus, click here.
Interactive map: Florida’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard | Interactive Map: Coronavirus cases around the world
Burns says 2019 was a record year with 116 sea turtle nests from Atlantic to Duval County beaches. She says if the beaches remain empty during their nesting season, there might be a new record.
“Sometimes they have very active nesting years, sometimes they don’t, there is not really anything to pinpoint why. But as I mentioned, we do know that human presence on the beach can be a detrement to the nesting turtles and to the emerging hatchlings. If the beaches remain fairly empty, then that should be more likely to entice the turtles to come and nest here,” said Burns.
Human impact includes things like chairs and trash left on the beach and holes dug in the sand.
90 percent of sea turtles in the U.S. nest in Florida.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, fewer beach goers and visitors means less trash and distractions.
Mayor Lenny Curry told Action News Jax on Thursday that he’s been in contact with the beaches mayors and keeping beaches closed is the best option for now.
Burns says it’s too early to know for sure how or if fewer beach goers will affect turtle nesting and hatchlings. Addtionally, it is unclear how long the beaches will stay closed and how long other restrictions will last.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
