Recent News
BIOS Scientist To Work With Ocean Tech ProjectFriday, August 05, 2016
A global marine research project designed to justify marine protected areas worldwide is set to launch in Bermuda next spring and will include the expertise of BIOS coral reef scientist Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley.
Daisy heads towards the Bahamas
Thursday, August 04, 2016
An endangered turtle rescued by fisherman off North Shore with a rusting hook caught in its trachea has left the island’s waters and is now swimming towards the Bahamas.
Subs exploring local waters
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Bermuda’s deep sea waters are being studied with submersibles by the international Nekton ocean exploration team, as part of Nekton’s XL Catlin Deep Ocean Survey.
Video: Nekton Mission’s First Submersible Dive
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Nekton’s first deep ocean scientific research mission, which is sponsored by re/insurer XL Catlin and in partnership with the Bermuda Government’s Ministry of the Environment, launched off the coast of Bermuda this week, with the action caught on camera.
Ocean Scientific Research Mission To Launch
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Nekton’s first deep ocean scientific research mission — sponsored by re/insurer XL Catlin and partnering with the Bermuda Government’s Ministry of the Environment — is preparing to launch off the coast of Bermuda this week.
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Latest News
All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!
By Cooper Stevenson
Published Jun 23, 2014 at 8:00 am
Protecting turtles: A petition calling for the creation of a turtle sanctuary
zone in the waters off Somerset Long Bay has attracted almost 500 signatures?
A petition calling for Somerset Long Bay in Sandys to be made into a turtle sanctuary has attracted more than 450 signatures.
Directed at the newly installed Minister for the Environment, Jeanne Atherden, the petition is now just 30 signatures short of its target of 500.
But more signatures are still needed, said Sandys resident Grace Markham. She began the petition alongside Cambridge Beaches Resort beach manager, Luke Fountain, after seeing a dead turtle apparently killed by a passing jet ski.
“Since the article came out last time, I’ve had another dead turtle in front of my cabana, which I delivered to the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo so they can figure out what happened to the poor thing,” she said.
“I’ve found a lot of people being very supportive of the cause — people I didn’t expect to worry about marine life. It’s good. I’m glad people are realising it’s up to us to protect these animals in their natural habitat. It’s the least we can do considering the amount of sea life that dies due to humans.”
The sanctuary proposed in the petition would include a no-wake zone extended to the boundaries of the seagrass meadow in the area, which stretches beyond the normal 100 metres from shore no-wake zone, and more signs warning of the presence of turtles in the area.
Jennifer Gray, coordinator for the Bermuda Turtle Project, has signed the petition. In a post on the website she said the sanctuary would be “perfect” . “These animals come to Bermuda at a very young age and will spend up to 20 years growing up in these lush pastures,” she wrote.
“They will stay in the same specific feeding grounds for most of those years before leaving Bermuda to mature elsewhere. Somerset Long Bay is a perfect place to create a marine protected area and restrict motor boats of all kinds.
“We could then have a haven for sea turtles and an amazing place to kayak and paddle board in the midst of these wonderful creatures. Visitors and locals alike would love such an eco-experience. There are certainly other areas worthy of protection too.”
For more information or to sign the petition, visit facebook.com/longbayturtles.