Nests for babies of endangered sea turtles found in remote Louisiana islands

CHANDELEUR ISLANDS, La. (InvestigateTV) — Biologists conducting surveys in Louisiana in 2022 found sea turtles using the remote Chandeleur Islands as a nesting spot, including the highly-endangered Kemp’s ridley turtle. It is the smallest sea turtle in the world.

The discovery has prompted a $380 million restoration plan for 13 miles of the remote Louisiana island chain, with funding expected to come primarily from court settlements related to the 2010 Gulf oil spill.

Remote location benefits turtle survival

The isolated nature of the islands may work to the turtles’ advantage, according to state wildlife and fisheries biologist Matt Weigel. There is little light pollution to confuse new hatchlings making their way toward the sea.

“We don’t have those large predators here,” Weigel said. “We have a good feeling that a lot of our hatchlings stand a good chance of making it to the Gulf.”

Crabs pose a threat, but little else, he said.

Island erosion threatens nesting success

The Chandeleur chain is part of America’s second oldest national wildlife refuge. Over the last couple of hundred years, the islands have lost 90 percent of their land mass, including many of the dunes that make for good nesting grounds.

“Everything’s kind of low, so if the tide gets over the nest, it’ll drown,” said Todd Baker, project manager with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

“The Chandeleur Islands are in danger of going away forever if we don’t do something now,” Sarah Clardy, assistant refuge supervisor, said.

Oil spill settlement funds restoration

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority hopes court settlements from the 2010 Gulf oil spill will provide most of the funding for the restoration project.

“Having the opportunity for these settlement dollars from Deepwater Horizon is a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” Clardy said.

The Macondo well blowout killed 11 workers and released 134 million gallons of crude into the sea. The Chandeleur Islands were heavily oiled during the spill.

“Had it not been for that spill and the funding that’s been made available from that spill we probably wouldn’t be standing here today talking about this project,” Baker said.

Successful nesting season documented

Scientists have documented at least 28 successful nests, including more than 525 Kemp’s ridley hatchlings.

They’ve studied where nests are successful and where they are not and the aim is to design a restoration that mimics successful elevations and finds a perfect environment for the turtles and their newborns.

Different boards control the BP oil spill money. One of them has already issued a draft plan that includes nearly $250,000 to restore the islands.

See the full story by John Snell here.