Marine Turtle Newsletter 10:7-8, © 1979
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Marine Turtle Newsletter 10:7-8, © 1979
Recently I returned from 16 months of fieldwork at Ascension Island. On Ascension, which is the type locality for Chelonia mydas, there nests a genetically isolated population of green turtles that is unique not only morphologically but also behaviorally. They are the largest green turtles in the world, commonly attaining weights of 400-500 lbs. Their round trip migration between feeding grounds on the coast of Brazil and their nesting grounds on Ascension, a total distance of over 4,000 km, is farther than that recorded for any other green turtle population.
For more than 50 years now, the turtles have enjoyed near-complete protection by the British government during their nesting at Ascension. The island is geographically remote, separated by 800 miles of water from the nearest point of land. Partly for logistic reasons, and partly for security reasons (much classified government work is carried out on Ascension) visitors have generally been denied access to the island. At the present time, the island is inhabited by approximately 1000 people, including British, Americans, Saint Helenians and South Africans.
However, I was recently appalled to learn that the British government is taking steps towards developing the island as a holiday resort area. The plans include construction of five hotels, with "about 1250 rooms available" (see The Islander, Ascension Island, #379, 27th October 1978). The hotels in this "tourist resort by the sea" would undoubtedly be located as near as possible to the island's picturesque beaches. Because only three miles of shoreline consist of beaches suitable for turtle nesting, I feel that this would spell disaster for the turtles. Nesting is very concentrated on these beaches, and even apparently slight disturbances near a beach can have a major impact. In all fairness, the British on the island have shown great concern for their turtles. However, even without the added burden of luxury beachfront hotels and a doubled or tripled human population, minor catastrophes have recently taken place. For example, I found the bodies of over 500 charred hatchling turtles which had wandered into the flames of a bonfire left unattended on the beach. Beach huts are located alongside two of the three major nesting beaches on the island. Lights from these buildings frequently frighten female turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs, and draw newly emerged hatchling turtles away from the sea. On one occasion, more than 100 hatchlings were stomped to death when they were attracted by lights, and mistakenly crawled into a beach hut while a dance was in progress.
While on Ascension, I became very concerned that too much sand is being dredged from prime nesting beaches. Scars remain on beaches even though years may have elapsed since dredging in a particular area has ceased. In addition, there has been a tendency to take sand at all times of the year, regardless of the nesting season. Frequently nests are exhumed inadvertently when the sand is removed.
In sum, I am extremely concerned about the obvious disruption in the form of lights and general commotion which would be caused by the presence of large resort hotels closely adjacent to concentrated nesting beaches. I also feel certain that the beach sand would be used in the construction of the hotels, and I dread the impact that this is likely to have on the nesting beaches themselves.
It seems a shame that when the British government has done so much to protect these animals during the past 45 years, all their efforts should end in naught because of such an ill-conceived scheme as this. It is difficult to stop commercial development of an area once plans have progressed too far. I am hoping there remains a chance of halting the proposed development at Ascension now while it is still in the "pre-feasibility study" stage, and urge that anyone else with similar concerns write as soon as possible to the British authorities about the situation. Letters should be addressed to:
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Downing Street
London SWl A 2AL U.K.
It would be appreciated if copies of letters could be sent either to Dr. N. Mrosovsky (address on front page of newsletter) or direct to me at the address below.
Jeanne A. Mortimer
Department of Zoology
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida 32611
U.S.A.