Speak up – Our Turtles can’t…
An appeal has been made by several residents and [email protected] to have the city commission consider adopting a “Leave No Trace” ordinance similar to that of Madeira Beach – for the purpose of protecting the endangered sea turtles that nest on Treasure Island beaches.
Primarily, it would prohibit personal items from being left 24/7 on the beach – canopies, canopy frames, beach furniture, beach gear – all things that female turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs can become disoriented by – causing false crawls and their heading back to the water, abandoning their attempt to lay their eggs. And the little hatchlings become entrapped in this stuff.
Madeira Beach has addressed such a hostile nesting environment with their “Leave No Trace Ordinance. “ Treasure Island should, too. The only ordinance our city has to address the problem involves tagging such items as abandoned property and removing them after five days – not effective in any way.
This WILL be on the Workshop agenda at the city commission meeting June 21 at 6 p.m. That is when the city commission will decide whether to advance this or not. Please go to the meeting for support and/or to speak. If you can’t make it, please email Commissioner Keys to voice your opinion. Thank you.
Information provided by: Nancy Furlong