On September 18, 2021, nonprofit organizations, Tortugueros del Sur y Conservation Opportunity joined together with the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources to host the International Coastal Cleanup 2021 at Ballena Beach in Guánica in order to pick up garbage, preserve the environment and take care of nearby species.
Group photo by: Emmanuel J. Guzman
During the event, using the Clean Swell, In addition, 1,794 pounds of garbage were collected after the work of the organizations and volunteers who were present. In addition, Conservation Opportunity participated in this event for the first time as an organization, and its work contributed greatly to the education of the volunteers present.
Tortugueros del Sur, which focuses mainly on the care of sea turtle species, identified this event as extremely important for the protection of tinglars (Dermochelys coriacea), tortoiseshell (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas) that nest in the area.
Photo by Marieliz Dieppa. Photo by: Johnathan Martínez
Ballena Beach, being classified as a dirty beach, requires special care. Since 2017, that they are in function, they have been in charge of taking care of this beach through several trash pickups.
Sea turtle eggs. Photo by: Fabiola Torres.
“We have hawksbills, tinglars, and white peje there, but the ones that are there the most are the tinglars, which nest from March to July and there are mostly 30-50 nests per season on this beach. Hawksbills do not nest there in large numbers, 10-15 nests per season. This season, we have only had one green turtle nesting. The species tend to choose where to nest. The marine currents from the south of the island drag and throw all the garbage to that area. The beach is very important for these species. In the southern area is the area where most of the tinglars nest. On the night of the day before the cleanup, a hawksbill turtle came up and nested on the beach and the people who were with us were able to witness the process of identifying the nest. Currently there are 5 active nests on that beach of mostly hawksbills and leatherbacks,” said Guillermo Plaza, the director of Tortugueros del Sur.
Among the factors indicated by the director is that, after the presence of garbage in the area, when the tinglars go to nest, they sometimes nest on top of those plastics and many times they cut themselves. They also leave traces of blood when they are wounded with large plastics, which were collected during the cleanup.
As a surprising fact, Plaza explains that, after the pandemic, he has noticed an increase in the number of volunteers in the activities he has participated in. He believes that social networks may have something to do with the situation and that he notices a different interest in the public.
The commitment of Tortugueros del Sur continues
As part of the efforts to continue restoring the beach, the organization is planning a sargassum cleanup activity. They do not have an exact date yet, but they hope to announce it in October, as they consider the situation of excess sargassum as a big problem that needs immediate attention.
Beach cleanup captain Gretchen Cordero (in yellow). Photo by Johnathan Martinez
“Definitely these activities and future activities help conservation. We have to do one more activity, in this case, cleaning sargassum. There are large quantities in the sand area of Ballena Beach. We would like to do this as soon as possible. If it is left there too long, it is going to be a nuisance in the future. The sargassum is not allowing the sand to be carried by the wind further up the coast, in this case to the coastal vegetation for more new sand to come in. By removing the sargassum from above, we will be encouraging the sand to dry and the wind will be able to carry it further into the vegetation to create dunes and a sandy beach area,” said Plaza.
With this collection, they hope to dispose of the sargassum behind the coastal vegetation, in order to contribute to the fertilizing process of the beach grapes (Coccoloba uvifera) of the area. They seek to use dispersal methods, not accumulation, since hawksbills nest in this vegetation.
If the sargassum were to accumulate, it would not be disposed of. By following their specific criteria, they will identify pertinent areas so as not to affect the nesting space of turtles and other species by dispersing the algae in specific parts of the vegetation.
After this coastal cleanup, the organizations hope to attract more volunteers in order to cover more territory and benefit the health of the species living in the area.