A 



Photo by Norman Martin 



The sea turtle has been roaming the globe for cen- 

 turies. But for a creature with such an ancient history, 

 it remains an enigma. 



For the most part, scientists know only about the ter- 

 restrial portion of the turtles' lives— a small fraction of 

 their lifetime. 



For males, this time is limited to development in the 

 egg, hatching and a short trek across the beach to the 

 ocean. But females return to land more frequently to 

 lay their eggs. 



When female sea turtles reach reproductive maturity 

 (about 20 to 25 years), they nest onshore three or four 

 times a season. Some theories suggest they always 

 return to their beaches where they were born, using 

 olfaction, sand temperatures or water composition to 

 guide them. 



They nest only at night and use the moon to direct 

 them inland. When a female finds an appropriate site 

 below the vegetation line or near a dune, she digs a 

 hole, lays about 120 eggs, then swims back to sea. 



In 90 days, hatchlings crawl from the nest and head 



By Sarah Friday i 



Sea Turtles Provide Scientists 

 With IVIore Questions Than Answers 



HARD SHELL 

 TO CRACK 



instinctively for the water in which they'll spend the 

 rest of their lives. 



But the odds are against them. Only 1 percent of the 

 hatchlings from each nest reach maturity. 



Once the turtles are in the water, the mystery begins. 

 Scientists find it nearly impossible to keep track of the 

 large reptiles. 



Most efforts to tag turtles have been unsuccessful. 

 Small tags break or fall off. Tagging by satellite is 

 costly. 



In addition, research is hindered by the turtle's 

 lengthy life span. Most sea turtles live to be 100 years 

 old or older, making it impossible for one researcher to 

 follow a full life cycle. 



Studying an endangered species creates problems, too. 

 Population numbers are low. Special restrictions for 

 testing exist. And the work is expensive. 



But scientists persist. They know a better under- 

 standing of this unique creature will help improve con- 

 servation strategies. 



CONTROVERSY 



Continued from page 6 



Clearly on the side of the turtles is the Center for En- 

 vironmental Education in Washington, D.C. 



Mike Weber, vice president for programs for CEE, says 

 his agency has worked nationally and internationally to 

 save the ancient, but threatened sea turtle. Part of 

 their involvement included the TED public hearings and 

 negotiations. 



Weber said he was surprised by DMF's opposition to 

 the TED regulations. 



"We believe that the Division of Marine Fisheries is 

 twisting available information to suit conclusions 

 they've already come to," Weber says. "1 don't think 

 their data will stand up to peer review.' ' 



And Weber is concerned about DMF's possible 

 lawsuit. 



"It's a bad situation," Weber laments. "I hope we 

 can work it out. But if they pursue this lawsuit, we will 



file a counter lawsuit. And in that suit we will ask that 

 TEDs be required in all waters." 



As representive organizations toss points and counter- 

 points back and forth about the TED, the time for its 

 mandatory use approaches. 



North Carolina shrimpers have eight months leeway. 

 But faced with the inevitable, the fishermen are making 

 phone calls and asking Sea Grant's marine advisory 

 agents about the excluder devices. 



In Brunswick County, Jim Bahen, a Sea Grant ad- 

 visory agent, has distributed 42 free TEDs from NMFS. 



The fishermen are installing the TEDs and getting ac- 

 customed to the way they pull in the water, Bahen says. 



"Once they put the doggone thing on, they're going 

 to find it's not as bad as they think it is," Oravetz says. 

 "It's not going to put the shrimping industry out of 

 business." 



9 



