PLEASURE ISLAND SEA

TURTLE PROJECT

Orientation 2020

Nancy Busovne, PISTP President

Your Board of Directors(Alphabetically)

• Nancy Busovne – Permit Holder, President, Project Coordinator

• Joanne Harcke - Secretary

• Jennifer Hufham – Permit Holder, Nest Leader Coordinator

• Julie Johnson - Vice President, NCAFF Liason

• Courtney Long - Treasurer

• Christina Lopez - Stranding Coordinator

• Paula Plarre - Public Awareness Coordinator

• Laura White - Member at Large

➢ PISTP Hot-Line: 888-290-1065

➢ PISTP Website: www.seaturtleproject.org

➢ Email: PISTP@seaturtleproject.org

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Your Coordinators(Alphabetically)

• Jennah Bosch – Fundraising/Education Coordinator

• Neal Dorow – Adopt-A-Nest Coordinator

• Kathy Fluta – Beach Store Coordinator

• Angela Huskey – Supplies/Patrol Coordinator

➢ PISTP Hot-Line: 888-290-1065

➢ PISTP Website: www.seaturtleproject.org

➢ Email: PISTP@seaturtleproject.org

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The oceanside coastline of North Carolina is regularly used as nesting habitat by sea turtles in summer months. In addition, many people, both local and from far away, visit the beautiful beaches of North Carolina in summer and fall months. This creates a unique opportunity for sea turtle volunteers to help raise awareness and advocate for sea turtles, through their interactions with beach visitors. The attitude and demeanor of all sea turtle volunteers will influence the public’s perception of sea turtles and sea turtle conservation. The following guiding principles are intended to reinforce respect and trust between sea turtle volunteers and beach visitors, and engender great support for sea turtle conservation in North Carolina

1. Each volunteer should act in a manner that promotes trust and confidence through their actions that should exude courtesy, civility, transparency, honesty, and kindness.

2. Each volunteer should remember that s/he is a trained professional and should present a professional demeanor and decorum.

3. Use each interaction with the public as an opportunity to provide education, as well as increase awareness and support of sea turtle conservation.

4. Beach visitors are encouraged, through example, to act courteously and respectfully of volunteers, and respond appropriately to volunteer requests/directions, in order to maintain the safety of the nest, hatchlings, and nesting turtles.

5. In cases where individuals are acting in a manner that could negatively affect sea turtles, remain professional and calm, and recommend actions that would minimize impacts on sea turtles.

6. Coarse, profane or argumentative language is unacceptable when interacting with the public. Avoid shouting or being overly loud.

7. If volunteers feel unsafe, they should remove themselves from the situation as quickly as possible and contact local law enforcement to report the situation and request assistance.

8. If someone is tampering with a nest, use best judgement to decide if it is safe to approach them and ask them to stop. If the situation appears unsafe, do not confront them. Watch from a safe distance and call local law enforcement for assistance.

Code of Conduct for the NC Sea Turtle Nest Monitoring and Protection Project

PISTP has a Stranding Team! Let us know if you are interested when you fill out the

2020 Volunteer information Form.

Let us know if you are interested in becoming a PISTP Nest Leader when

you fill out the 2020 Volunteer information Form.

The most common turtle to nest on NC beaches is the Loggerhead.

NC Green sea turtles are genetically distinct, meaning they are specific

to NC. Some say this is like our own sub-species of NC Greens!

We collect this data at each hatch. This information helps us request

lighting ordinances to protect our sea turtles.

• Nesting range for 2019 was 12-18 days between nests.• A 1st time nester laid in northern FL, southeastern NC

and northern NC.• Many of our turtles nest in NC/SC/GA

DNA sampling protocols

Fresh eggshell from all new nests

For wild or surprise nests, we still want a sample!

ORDER OF PREFERENCE FOR WILD NESTS:

• Dead hatchling • Dead embryo • Whole unhatched egg • Empty shell

Place sample in alcohol in DNA vial and label as you would normal eggshell sample

Future work with DNA samples

Funding through 2021.

Continue sample all nests

Female Survivorship estimates

Population modeling with ability to assess impacts of specific threats