PJIAE HELPS NATURE FOUNDATION WITH SEA TURTLE SIGNAGE
Nature Foundation St.
Maarten Manager Beverly Mae Nisbeth (left) and PJIAE
President Eugene Holiday (right) at one of the sea turtle
awareness signs mounted on the Simpson Bay beach.
St. Maarten Nature Foundation has erected sea turtle awareness signs on
several beaches around the island with the help of PJIAE. Two were
erected on sea turtle nesting beaches Guana Bay beach and Gibbs Bay and
three on Simpson Bay Beach alongside the airport runway, where turtles
often come ashore to lay their eggs as well.
Foundation Manager Beverly Mae Nisbeth on Thursday April 16th 2008,
unveiled the signs in the presence of PJIAE President drs. Eugene
Holiday and the press. She said the project cost about U$ 8,000, with
the signs being produced in the US from durable material from a design
by the foundation. The Government Public Works Department assisted in
erecting them on the beach, in such a manner that they can be removed
easily when bad weather is expected.
Ms. Nisbeth explained that the Sea Turtle Nesting Beach Signage project
was drafted a few years ago, but remained unexecuted due to financial
constraints. After consultation with PJIAE the Nature Foundation used
part of a financial injection pledged in 2008 by PJIAE for the
foundation’s mangrove replanting project.
PJIAE President drs. Eugene Holiday said that the airport’s funding of
the Nature Foundation’s efforts are in line with the airport’s policy of
environmental preservation.
The unveiling of the signage came at the height of the sea turtle
nesting season, which runs from April through November each year. The
signs bear information about the three species of turtles that nest on
St. Maarten beaches – the Leatherback, Hawksbill and Green turtles- and
also include a description of the turtles’ sizes, diet, weight and most
importantly their conservation status. There are also pointers on the
signs alerting the public on how to behave on a sea turtle nesting
beach. Furthermore there is a sea turtle hotline number 9229 on the
signs; someone is available 24/7 during the sea turtle nesting season
for inquiries and reports of turtle nesting activity.
