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A group of educators had the opportunity to get up close and personal to a sea turtle nest on Delray Beach Tuesday.
It’s part of the city’s turtle-protection program and the first year the city has expanded the program to include public outreach.
The group witnessed a nest excavation and saw firsthand a loggerhead sea turtle that hadn’t yet emerged from the nest near the Casuarina Road access point.
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A coastal engineering consultant for the city was on hand to talk about the importance of the program.
“To get more people, more people knowing that the beach is more than a fun place to go. It is important for storm protection and it’s important for habitat,” said Tera Brenner, coastal engineer with APTIM.
Delray Beach tracks every nest during sea turtle nesting season.
“After construction and actually every year the city has chosen to do sea turtle monitoring which is happening here today,” said Brenner.
Tuesday's event was invite only but the city plans to open it up to the public later this year.
They want to remind residents to help them protect marine life.
“Stay away from the nest, don’t mess with the nest, keep your lights off so that the turtles can listen to the natural cues of going to the ocean,” said Brenner.
Tuesday's excavation was done under an FWC approved permit.