WHEREAS, there are only seven species of sea turtles around the world and six are classified as threatened or endangered; and
WHEREAS, five of the seven sea turtle species nest on North Carolina’s oceanfront beaches including the well-known loggerhead sea turtle; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina beaches are critical to the loggerhead habitat that spans across 96 miles of oceanfront beach and is key to contributing male hatchlings to the larger loggerhead metapopulation in the Southeastern United States; and
WHEREAS, an average of 378 individual turtles nest on North Carolina beaches each year and this equates to 1,000 nests that produce 70,000 emergent hatchlings; and
WHEREAS, threats to sea turtles in North Carolina waters include habitat degradation, incidental capture in commercial and recreational fishing gear, boat collisions and marine pollution; and
WHEREAS, efforts made by state, federal and non-governmental organizations (NGO) including Bald Head Island Conservancy and the North Carolina Audubon monitor more than 95 percent of the state’s 330 miles of coastline daily during the nesting season to find and protect sea turtle nests; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina Aquariums and The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center rehabilitate and release dozens of injured sea turtles each year along with numerous volunteers and staff that work endlessly to help protect the sea turtles of North Carolina;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim June 13 – 19, 2021, as “NORTH CAROLINA SEA TURTLE WEEK” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.