Island geared up for sea turtle season

By GRACE GAGLIANO

gagostin@bradenton.com

ANNA MARIA --

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch was out early Thursday to monitor the start of sea turtle nesting season.

AMI Turtle Watch volunteers patrol the island's beaches in an effort to help the non-profit organization protect the endangered species and collect data.

Thirteen of the organization's 96 volunteers were assigned to walk one-mile sections on the island in search of turtle nests to mark off and document in records.

No turtle nests or tracks were reported. However, John DeFazio, a section coordinator for AMI Turtle Watch, said it is rare to spot nesting on the first day.

"The turtles often aren't out there until the middle of May, but we wanted to start early so we don't miss any," DeFazio said.

According to data collected since 1982, a nest spotted on the first day only happened once on Anna Maria Island.

Suzi Fox, director of AMI Turtle Watch, said volunteers will be out every day from about 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. to collect data on sea turtle nests.

Fox, along with Anna Maria resident Sally Heirsch, surveyed the bayside of the island near the city pier Thursday.

The two said they think their efforts can help bring awareness to how sea turtle nesting is doing on Anna Maria on an annual basis.

"It's a barometer for how we're doing," Fox said. "If this is the turtle's home and she's not coming home, we need to see what's going on in the water."

Fox, a Turtle Watch member for 18 years, said 134 nests were reported on Anna Maria Island last year, an increase of 16 from 2006.

Fox distributes the AMI Turtle Watch data to the volunteers who are willing to be educated and commit to surveying beaches throughout the nesting season.

Heirsch said she also wants to educate beachgoers about how they can protect the sea turtles.

"I feel responsible for informing people and letting people know what's going on," Heirsch said.

Some rules enforced at Florida beaches during sea turtle nesting season include:

• Turning off or shielding lights that face the beach at night.

• Keeping away from marked turtle nests and hatchlings.

• Taking beach furniture off the sand at night.

"We have found people on the island are very aware of what's going on on our beaches," Fox said. "They are willing to make the same efforts on their part to help protect this species."

Grace Gagliano, Bradenton city reporter, can be reached at 748-0411, ext. 2620.