Project Aims to Shield Cayman Islands Turtles From Climate Change Threats

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The islands’ sea turtles are recovering from over-harvesting – but climate change is causing habitat loss, an increasingly female population (the sex of turtle hatchlings is determined by temperature) and has the potential to reduce egg-hatching success.

The islands’ sea turtles are recovering from over-harvesting – but climate change is causing habitat loss, an increasingly female population (the sex of turtle hatchlings is determined by temperature) and has the potential to reduce egg-hatching success.

The new project – run by the Cayman Islands Department of Environment and the University of Exeter – will assess the impacts of rising temperatures, increased storminess and sea-level rise, and devise ways to protect turtles.

Using turtles as a “flagship” species, the team will also develop local capacity and outreach to improve management of coastal areas.

Read more at: University of Exeter

Nesting green turtle returns to sea (Photo Credit: Cayman Islands Government)