Governor Proclaims North Carolina Sea Turtle Week 2023

WHEREAS, there are 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 have been documented nesting on North Carolina’s oceanfront beaches; and

WHEREAS, North Carolina beaches are important sea turtle habitats that span 330 miles of oceanfront beach and are key to contributing hatchlings to the Southeastern United States loggerhead sea turtle population; and

WHEREAS, roughly 96 miles of North Carolina’s oceanfront beaches are designated critical nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles; and

WHEREAS, an average of 378 individual turtles nest on North Carolina beaches each year, laying 1,000 nests that produce 70,000 emergent hatchlings; and

WHEREAS, primary threats to sea turtles in North Carolina waters are 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, including the Bald Head Island Conservancy and 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 sick and 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 12 – 16, 2023, as “NORTH CAROLINA SEA TURTLE WEEK” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.