The Nature Foundation St. Maarten (naturefoundationsxm.org) has confirmed the first sea turtle nest of the 2024 season laid on Maho Beach by a leatherback sea turtle. The area has been cordoned off. Don't know how to provide a link but you can check out their website. Pretty cool news and we hope that area is protected.
Yes, a very scary place for those eggs to be. I really hope they will be OK. I remember seeing a couple of nests cordoned off over the years, by Beachside, but the traffic there was so much less than on Maho.
From the pic, it looks like they are on the SSBB end of the beach - can't think of a worse place with all the cruise ship passengers! And I can't see area marked off on the SSBB cam
You can see a ,clear square area about halfway down the beach from SSBB camera. People are usually standing at the edge taking photos. I could not see any yellow tape. On multiple cruise ship days Nature Foundation sdhould consider having volunteers nearby. How long is the gestation period for Leatherback turtle eggs?
Not true , because I live in that area and pass everyday. It has four poles with yellow tape plus their sign about the reason why its blocked and no one goes into that area . Totally being respected . Thanks for your concern.