Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1525500
16 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 AUGUST 2024 A record of turtle nests This year, a record of eight turtle nests have been reported, surpassing the previous record of seven nests in 2020. The most recent nesting was observed at Ramla l-Ħamra in Gozo. JULIANA ZAMMIT spoke to Stanley Gatt, an official from the environment watchdog, to try and understand this phenomenon AT least eight turtles have made Malta and Gozo's beaches their nesting grounds this summer in what has turned out to be a re- cord year. The most recent nesting ob- served at Ramla l-Ħamra in Gozo eclipsed the record estab- lished in 2020 when seven turtle nests were recorded. So far, 44 baby turtles have hatched from one of the nesting sites at Golden Bay with other nests expected to hatch in the coming weeks. Turtles started to nest more fre- quently on Maltese beaches over the past 12 years, a phenomenon that leaves bathers astonished and environmentalists happy. To understand this phenom- enon, MaltaToday spoke with Stanley Gatt from the Nature Team within the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA). He explained that there are two primary hypotheses for the in- crease in turtle nesting in Malta. The nesting phenomenon could be linked to global warm- ing, Gatt said. Temperature in- fluences the sex of turtle hatch- lings, with warmer conditions favouring females. "An increase in temperature leads to an increase of the female development rather than male development," he stated. Another hypothesis is prem- ised on the improvement in conservation measures like the increase in protection for turtle nests that improved the surviva- bility of hatchlings. The exact vi- ability of the nests cannot be de- termined until hatching occurs. Gatt said the hatching period has just begun. "We're going to at least have another three weeks of hatching," he said. In an average turtle nest, log- gerhead turtles typically lay between 60 to 100 eggs, with a hatching success rate of about 75%. However, the survival rate of hatchlings reaching adult- hood is lower, at around 6%. Gatt also noted that environ- mental NGOs also play an im- portant role in the monitoring of nesting activities, with volun- teers from Nature Trust and the Wildlife Rescue Team conduct- ing surveillance on beaches dur- ing the night and early morning to identify nesting occurrences. There are currently over 200 volunteers monitoring the turtle nesting sites in Malta, with just above 100 volunteers in Gozo. The process to protect a nest- ing site is immediately done once a marking is confirmed. "The moment that these volunteers encounter either a nesting tur- tle or markings on the beach, it is checked and confirmed, and immediately it is physically cor- doned off to ensure that there is no trampling on the nest," Gatt said. Once a nest is confirmed, ERA issues an emergency conserva- tion order to protect the sites from disturbance from activities occurring around the nesting sites. The public is encouraged to be mindful of activities that could negatively impact the nesting sites. This includes avoiding excessive noise and vibrations, refraining from camping in sur- rounding areas, and not placing umbrellas near nesting sites, as this can cast shadows on the nests. Additionally, it's impor- tant to minimize light pollution, as excessive lighting can confuse hatchlings, leading them away from the sea. After the first baby turtles hatched, volunteers and en- vironment officials will be on standby over the next few weeks for more hatchlings to emerge from beneath the sand as they start their brave journey to adulthood. Top: Two nesting sites at Golden Bay and (bottom) Stanley Gatt and a turtle hatchling in the sea (Photo: ERA)