Sea Turtles & Marine Life
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Green sea turtles frolic in Turtle Lake.
Mangroves of Turtle Lake. Photo courtesy of Neil Ever Obsorne and ILCP.
Sea life on mangrove roots in Turtle Lake. Photo courtesy of Neil Ever Obsorne and ILCP.
Sea Turtle Research & Conservation
The green sea turtle population has persisted in the Turtle Lake for over 60 years. Some turtles are first and second generation individuals reared by Mr. Edwin Burrows, while a few others are third generation reared naturally in the lake.
Hatched sea turtle eggs. Photo by Claudia Makeyev of Mermaid Islands, Inc.
The marine environment of Turtle Lake is free of plastics, fish nets and gear, and pollutants that can harm sea turtles and their prey. As such, it provides an important reference condition to assess sea turtle health and behavior. In the future we will support important turtle life history research, such as juvenile diets, and movements. We will also assess the possibility of augmenting wild populations.
Mangroves from Above
The mangrove habitats that ring Turtle Lake support diverse bird populations and provide structural protection to the shoreline.
Mangroves from Below
Mangroves provide perhaps more habitat under water than above. The roots provide excellent rearing habitat for fish, and extremely unique muscle, sponge and other invertebrates populations.
Photo by Claudia Makeyev of Mermaid Islands, Inc.
Fish & Other Critters
Numerous fish species call Turtle Lake home. The lake has not been stocked with fish for decades, thus remaining species are sustained soley by the natural environments of the lake.
We continue to document the fish, invertebrate and bird species using the lake. Can you spot the grunt hiding in the shadow of the mangrove?