Don’t miss the world premier of the new documentary, Turtle Dance, a project of local Coastal filmmakers, Jim and Mari Carswell with Spyhop Productions during the Gray’s Reef Ocean Film Festival. The story is about the unique and holistic partnership that is bringing the world’s most endangered sea turtle, the Kemp’s Ridley, back from the brink of extinction. It’s an amazing story of hope and just how much power we do have as individuals to help save an endangered species.
You can watch this amazing documentary movie on Saturday, September 20 at 7 p.m. at Trustees Theater!
New Lighting Guidelines for Jekyll Island Beaches to Protect Endangered Sea Turtles
Jekyll Island Authority Publishes Updated Lighting Ordinance; Sets New Standard for Beach Protection from Artificial Light
JEKYLL ISLAND, GA. – The Jekyll Island State Park Authority (JIA) has announced it’s intentions to set greater restrictions on lights near its natural beaches in order to protect sea turtles from the adverse effects of artificial light. The move, once approved as a new ordinance for the state-owned island, will likely be the model for beach lighting ordinances for all of Georgia’s coast communities.
Artificial lighting is the light that emanates from any man-made device, such as street-lights, tree lights, beach-walk lanterns, and neon signs. This new ordinance, which strictly defines what will and will not be allowed on and near the beach, will be regulated and enforced by the JIA.
“Jekyll Island is well-known for its conservation efforts, especially through the work of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center,” said Ben Porter, chairman of the Jekyll Island State Park Authority. “This is another big step towards making Jekyll Island one of the most environmentally-friendly communities on the East Coast.”
Release of Sea Turtle – Amelia Island, Florida
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (May 5, 2008)- On May 17th at 11 am, the Wild Amelia Festival in combination with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center will host a special event at Main Beach Park. Vida, a female juvenile loggerhead sea turtle, will be released and returned to the Atlantic Ocean. Â She stranded on a beach in St. John’s County near St. Augustine, Florida on December 19, 2007 and was observed to be very lethargic due to the cold weather. Â Vida was transferred to the GSTC on Jekyll Island, Georgia and has been returned to health by their excellent staff. Join us as Vida makes her exciting trip back to the wild on Fernandina Beach. Main Beach Park is located at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and North Fletcher Avenue on Amelia Island, Florida. Following the release the staff of GA Sea Turtle Center will do a presentation at the Atlantic Recreation center about what they do at the center.
The Wild Amelia Nature Festival held from May 16 – 18, 2008 will showcase the bioregion and natural treasures of Amelia Island and the surrounding area of Northeast Florida. Information about the Festival can be found at www.WildAmelia.com.