Okaloosa County BOCC — January 30, 2013 — 13-033_CP_Nighttime guided beach walks_4.18.13 — reading text

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Commissioners Kenneth W. Wright Chairman Winter Park Bo Rivard Panama City Ronald M. Bergeron Fort Lauderdale Richard A. Corbett Tampa Allese P. “Liesa” Priddy Immokalee Charles W. Roberts Ill Tallahassee Brian S. Yablonski Tallahassee Executive Staff Nick Wiley Executive Director Greg Holder Assistant Executive Director Karen Ventimigila Chief of Staff Imperiled Species Management Section R.Kipp Frohlich Section Leader (850) 922-4330 (850) 922-4338 FAX Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people. 620 South Meridian Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600 Voice: (850) 488-4676 Hearing/speech-impaired: (800) 955-8771 (T) (800) 955-8770 (Vv) MyFWC.com April 18, 2013 George W. Gray The Stranding Center P.O. Box 5048 Destin, FL 32540 RE: Consent Permit, Marine Turtle Permit #033 Dear Mr. Gray: We have received your request to conduct educational nighttime guided beach walks during the 2013 marine turtle nesting season (May 1 through October 31). It is our understanding that the purpose of these walks is to provide an educational experience that focuses on the beach environment. Pursuant to ss. 379.2431 (1), Florida Statutes, and Rule 68E-1, Florida Administrative Code, and your request, consider this letter as authorization to lead nighttime walks on the marine turtle nesting beach. If nesting or hatchling marine turtles are encountered during these walks, please adhere to the following conditions to minimize the impact of any such encounters on the nesting or hatchling turtles. 1. All participants must be informed of the State and Federal laws protecting sea turtles and their nests. Participants must be informed that conducting turtle walks or hatchling rescue/release without a permit is unlawful. Interpretive programs (lectures, slide presentations, etc.) that incorporate accurate, updated information on sea turtle conservation and biology are mandatory. Programs should be presented prior to the guided nighttime beach walk and must include an explanation of procedures to be followed during the experience. If desired, FWC staff will provide assistance in developing interpretive programs. Guided nighttime beach walks shall be limited to 20 registered participants per walk with walks occurring no more than four (4) times per week: twice per week on Okaloosa Island and twice per week in Destin. Flash photography is strictly prohibited under all circumstances. Use of flashlights is prohibited, except when necessary to locate disoriented marine turtle hatchlings or verify that all released hatchlings have departed the swash zone. Any flashlight or head lamp used shall have either a red LED light source or employ a red filter that eliminates short wavelength light. Fees for sea turtle conservation walks on the nesting beach may only be charged by non-profit organizations to cover legitimate costs incurred in sea turtle conservation efforts. Please be reminded that if you charge a fee you may be subject to litigation and should carry liability insurance. Age limitations for participants are left to the discretion of the principal permit holder. Mr. George Gray Page 2 April 18, 2013 7. The use of ATVs or other motorized vehicles (golf carts, UTVs, etc.) are not authorized for use with nighttime guided beach walks. Specialized wheel chairs adapted for use on the beach and not exceeding 10 PSI tire pressure may be used to accommodate any mobility-impaired participants. Hatch success evaluations may not be conducted in conjunction with nighttime guided beach walks. In the event that a nesting turtle is encountered during a nighttime guided beach walk, the following conditions shall apply: 1. Nighttime guided beach walks may only observe loggerhead turtles. Should any other species be encountered on the nesting beach, the group is not to be guided near that turtle. Nighttime guided beach walk leaders are encouraged to invite persons who are on their own looking for turtles to join the group. This is an opportunity to educate persons who might otherwise disturb nesting turtles. Provided the beach width is sufficient to allow it, the group shall remain at least fifty (60) feet from the turtle at all times including during nesting, camouflaging, and return to the ocean. Participants must be instructed to stay with the group and remain quiet at all times. During the entire beach walk, the group must remain together. The group may not approach a nesting turtle until egg deposition is well underway. Participants, scouts, and the leader must approach from the rear and remain behind the nesting turtle during egg deposition and covering. The nest cavity may not be exposed and eggs may not be removed from the nest. Participants may not touch the turtle. The use of flash photography and lights [other than infrared] for filming is not permitted. In the event that disoriented hatchlings are encountered during a nighttime guided beach walk, the following conditions shall apply: 1. In the event that disoriented hatchlings are encountered, hatchlings may only be handled by the Marine Turtle Permit Holder or their authorized personnel. The Marine Turtle Permit Holder or walk participants may not collect hatchlings as they emerge and disperse from a nest. Only disoriented marine turtle hatchlings may be recovered — disoriented hatchlings shall be considered those that have traveled a minimum of 20 feet from the clutch site and become disoriented (e.g., are traveling at an angle of 45 degrees or greater from the most direct path to the water). If hatchlings are making Mr. George Gray Page 3 April 18, 2013 their way towards the ocean at an angle less than 45 degrees from the most direct path to the water, the Marine Turtle Permit Holder or walk participants may not collect these hatchlings. 2. Flashlights or other artificial lights may not be utilized during the release of any disoriented hatchlings. This applies to any members of the public observing such releases, as well as all permitted personnel involved in the release. Use of flashlights is prohibited, except when necessary to locate disoriented marine turtle hatchlings or verify that all released hatchlings have departed the swash zone. Any flashlight or head lamp used shall have either a red LED light source or employ a red filter that eliminates short wavelength light. Flashlights may not be used to attract hatchlings into the water. 8. Occasionally, individual hatchlings may need assistance in reaching the water. In such cases, the Marine Turtle Permit Holder or their authorized. personnel may move them closer to the water's edge or place them in the shallows so the hatchling can swim offshore on their own. 4. Recovered disoriented hatchlings should be released immediately after recovery. Disoriented hatchlings may not be held while waiting for subsequent emergences of hatchlings from the same nest or different nests. If disoriented hatchlings need to be temporarily contained in order to recover additional disoriented hatchlings from the same emergence,they shall be placed in a bucket with a small amount of moist sand in the bottom. Hatchlings should not be held in water. 5. Release of recovered disoriented hatchlings shall be attempted as close to the original nest site as possible. The first release attempt should take place closer to the water line seaward of the nest site. If the hatchlings continue to disorient, the hatchlings may be transported to a nearby section of beach that is darker. 6. Under no circumstance shall volunteers hold hatchlings at their home or other unauthorized location. Only FWC Marine Turtle Permit holders may dispose of dead hatchlings. 7. Disorientation forms shall be completed for each hatchling emergence event where hatchlings become disoriented. These disorientation forms shall be submitted to FWC electronically (SeaTurtleLightings@MyFWC.com) or via fax (561-743-6228) within 48 hours. This signed permit and a copy of Marine Turtle Permit #13-083 must be in your possession while conducting the nighttime guided beach walk. Please ensure that you have any necessary authorizations from local entities to conduct the proposed activities. Mr. George Gray Page 4 April 18, 2013 This authorization expires December 31*, 2013. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Meghan Koperski at (561) 575-5975 or via e-mail at MTP@MyFWC.com. Sincerely, 4 QtthN Fermollel Robbin N. Trindell, Ph.D. Biological Administrator ec: ISM, Tequesta Mrs. Ann Marie Lauritsen, FWS