On Feb. 25, the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rescue team was contacted about a stranded hawksbill sea turtle that had washed ashore near Honeymoon Beach, Water Island. STAR team members from the University of the Virgin Islands responded and found the turtle deceased. Upon examination, it was determined that the adult female hawksbill had suffered fatal injuries consistent with a boat strike, the organization announced.
Hawksbill sea turtles are Critically Endangered due to human threats, so protecting their populations in the U.S. Virgin Islands is crucial. The USVI is home to three species of nesting sea turtles: hawksbills, leatherbacks, and greens. Hawksbills may be found foraging on coral reefs throughout the territory’s coastal waters and nesting on beaches year-round, according to the press release.
Boat strikes pose a major threat to sea turtles in the USVI, accounting for nearly 25 percent of all documented strandings. In 2024, STAR recorded 36 sea turtle strandings, eight of which were caused by boats, the press release stated.
All sea turtles spend time at the surface breathing, mating, and searching for suitable beach nesting habitats. At these times, sea turtles are very susceptible to boat traffic. If boats are speeding, turtles may not be able to react in time to dive below the surface, potentially resulting in injuries or death. To reduce the risk of boat strikes, STAR urges all watercraft operators to follow safe boating practices, such as maintaining a speed of 5 mph in no-wake zones, operating at slow speeds (under 15 mph) in nearshore water, and remaining alert for sea turtles at the surface. Safe boating practices are essential to reducing sea turtle injuries and fatalities in USVI waters, the release stated.
STAR is a nonprofit organization of government agencies, NGOs, local nonprofits, veterinarians, and dedicated volunteers. Operating across all three U.S. Virgin Islands, STAR responds to any sea turtles or hatchlings that are injured, trapped, entangled, disoriented, or dead, the release stated.
To report a sea turtle to STAR, please call 340-690-0474 and be ready to provide detailed information about the location of the stranding, the condition of the turtle (alive or dead), and a description of its size and any visible injuries, it said.
For more information on STAR and sea turtle conservation efforts in the USVI, please visit STAR-Sea Turtle Assistance and Rescue on Facebook or find us on Instagram.
