Why Hawksbills?

Of the five species of marine turtles that visit Florida waters, hawksbills have been studied the least.  Loggerhead, green, and the giant leatherback take center stage every nesting season, and the rare Kemp’s Ridley has played an important role in the implementation of turtle excluder devices in Florida’s commercial fishing industry.  The reefs of Palm Beach County are well-known for having lots of sea turtles, especially hawksbills, and SCUBA  divers enjoy encounters with them on nearly every dive.   The reefs of Palm Beach are an ideal location to study the hawksbills of Florida.

A Tough Road...

Hawksbills have been nearly wiped out worldwide by humans mostly for their beautiful shells.  For centuries, a lucrative global trade in hawksbill shell (used primarily for stylish personal items and artwork)  reduced hawksbill populations to near extinction.  These practices continue throughout their range. International conservation efforts over the last four decades have and will continue to work to stabilize  hawksbill populations around the world, and we are proud to contribute to that effort.    

What Can We Do?

By studying the hawksbills of Florida, we are contributing to the ongoing effort to recover Caribbean hawksbill populations.  Large-scale, multi-national efforts are underway to stimulate hawksbill conservation, in large part due to their close association with coral reefs.  Because they don’t nest with any regularity in Florida, those we encounter here have very likely come from a variety of distant locations in the Caribbean.  As a result, the hawksbills being studied in Palm Beach represent a  ‘melting pot’ of regional populations, and can provide valuable insight to the biology and conservation of this species.

                                The Reefs

Just off the Florida coast, a treasure of biological diversity has been recognized by fishermen and recreational divers for decades, but remained virtually unnoticed by marine scientists.  The reefs of South Florida have a rich geological history, and are home to a staggering diversity of marine organisms. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream come closest to the continental U.S. in Palm Beach County, bringing a remarkable array of tropical and sub-tropical marine species within a mile of shore.

The health of Florida’s estuaries, reefs, and offshore habitats are critical for hundreds, if not thousands, of species, and also Florida’s fishing and tourism industries.   We are developing partnerships among researchers, students, and volunteers to initiate offshore water quality and reef monitoring projects that will provide important information about how Florida’s reefs respond to changing conditions.

***Remember:  State and Federal laws prohibit the harassment of endangered species.  Do not pursue, touch, or disturb sea turtles while diving.  

photo courtesy of John Lopinot