Surprise Visitors At Maracas Bay

 Who are these visitors?

            On Thursday 10th June 2021 workers from the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) Facilities Management Crew at Maracas Bay, the most well-known beach in Trinidad, were shocked to see baby leatherback sea turtles hatching. According to the workers, there were 52 hatchlings, with the possibility of more to come. In the world, Trinidad and Tobago is one of the largest remaining nesting sites for Leatherback Sea Turtles (Save Our Sea Turtles 2021).

Video by: UDeCOTT Facilities Management Crew - Sanjay Ramsaran

Why did they nest at Maracas?

            Maracas Bay is usually beaming with activity during the day and night. Being the most popular beach in Trinidad, it facilitates visitors from all over the world who come for the Sun, Sand, and Sea experience but also for our infamous Bake and Shark duo. Due to the ongoing pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago, the country went into lockdown shortly after the Easter period, which meant that all beaches were off-limits. This now quiet, lonely beach acted as a new nesting site for one or more Leatherback Sea Turtles.

Photo by: UDeCOTT Facilities Management Crew - Sanjay Ramsaran

What does this mean for the future of Leatherback Sea Turtles?

            A fact about sea turtles is that they usually return to the exact place they were born to lay their eggs when they mature. This means that within the next 2 to 5 years, the female Leatherback Sea Turtles born from this clutch of eggs may attempt to return to Maracas Bay to lay their eggs (The Leatherback Trust 2021). By this time, the pandemic would be in a more manageable state where normal life will return, meaning that this now quiet lonely beach will return to its former glory of being the tourist and party hub of the north coast. Therefore, if the turtles to Maracas Bay they will have to return to the ocean in the hope of finding a new nesting ground in time to lay their eggs.

Photo by: UDeCOTT Facilities Management Crew - Sanjay Ramsaran

What can we do?

            We can encourage Eco-tourism at Maracas Bay. This can be done by having limitations to activities on the beach during nesting season and providing jobs for persons in the community to protect and look after the nests and the hatchlings, similar to the processes in place at the most well-known Leatherback Sea Turtle nesting site in Trinidad, Grand Riviere. It is important to note that nesting activities with regards to Leatherback Sea Turtles only last for 4 months (March to June), meaning that the beach activities can proceed as usual for 8 months of the year. This venture can encourage tourism and boost the economy once the borders reopen and COVID-19 cases are under control.

Photo by: UDeCOTT Facilities Management Crew - Sanjay Ramsaran


What do you think is the next step?


References: "Life Cycle Of Leatherbacks". 2021. The Leatherback Trust. https://www.leatherback.org/why-leatherbacks/life-cycle-of-leatherbacks. "The Leatherback Turtle - Save Our Sea Turtles". 2021. Sos-Tobago.Org. http://sos-tobago.org/trinbago-turtles/leatherback.

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