Sea turtle nesting season officially begins May 1 and The City of Myrtle Beach wants to remind everyone that disturbing nesting turtles is a crime.
In a Facebook post the city said there have already been reports made to Myrtle Beach Police about people shining flashlights at sea turtles trying to come ashore to nest. Other reports said that people were scaring the turtles away.
Sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Turtle Protection Act. The act states that “no person may take, possess, disturb, mutilate, destroy, cause to be destroyed, sell, offer for sale, transfer, molest or harass any marine sea turtle or its nests or eggs at any times.”
Penalties for disturbing nesting sea turtles include jail time and fines up to $15,000 for each offense.
The city also says that turtle hatchlings should not be picked up and placed in the ocean. The hatchlings need to crawl on their own to set their “navigational compass” and increase their chances of survival.
So be aware of turtles and their nests when you visit the beach this summer.