05/01/2022
May 1 marks the beginning of Myrtle Beach's sea turtle nesting season. This is your reminder that if you see a sea turtle, leave it alone! Our police officers are looking for people bothering these precious creatures as they return to shore to lay their eggs. 🐢 Sea Turtles are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, with fines of up to $15,000. The animals are also protected under 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, mo**st or harass any marine sea turtle or its nests or eggs at any times.”
If you see a sea turtle in the ocean or on the beach, stay away from it. Do not shine a light on it or otherwise disturb it. not harm, harass, pick up, ride, straddle, restrain, jump over, injure, kill or otherwise disturb sea turtles. Feeding or touching turtles in any way, including shining a light on them, is considered a disturbance and is illegal. Federal penalties include jail time and fines up to $15,000 for each offense. Further, turtle hatchlings should not be picked up and placed in the ocean, as they need to crawl on their own to set their navigational compass and increase their chance of survival. Turtles return to the beach where they hatched to lay their eggs.
Myrtle Beach Police Department
