During a petrol on the Caribbean Island of Curacao by the Royal navy sailors, cleared hazardous waste plastics from a critical turtle nesting site.
To assist in monitor drug smugglers in conjunction with the US Coast Guard and to assist and support the British Overseas Territories during the hurricane season from June to November, Portsmouth-based HMS Dauntless was deployed to the Caribbean.
From the Type 45 destroyer, fifty British sailors volunteered with Curacao’s Sea turtle conservation, during a routine logistic stopover on the Dutch island, assisting to clear in excess of 200kg of ocean plastic waist from a regular nesting beach along with conducting medical checks on the turtle population.
Megan Page an able seaman, was among the volunteers from the Royal Navy’s Hydrography and Meteorology division. She informed that the Royal Navy recognizes the importance of maintaining a healthy environment and with the increasing impact of climate change, a regular beach clean-up is imperative. It is an important factor to work with the local organizations as part of this process to determine the challenges confronted by marine life and assist where we can.
Plastic debris is often mistaken for food by the sea turtles, leading to internal injuries and ingestion that can prove fatal to these delicate sea creatures.
Life threatening hazards such as entanglement in discarded fishing nets and various other plastic waist materials can be especially challenging for these gentle marine creatures.
The joint effort by Curacao’s Sea Turtle Conservation and the HMS Dauntless aims to create awareness regarding the crucial need to combat ocean waist and world ocean’s biodiversity.
Fild Coordinator for sea turtle conservation Curacao Ard Vreugdenhil, informed that individuals are increasingly aware of the attention they need to have for the surroundings that they are living in, and be an example and spread the word. The collaboration and responsibility that is exhibited, and the relationship between the Curacao’s Sea Turtle Conservation and the Royal Navy will surely continue for years to come.
Petrol’s by the HMS Dauntless will continue in countering the province’s narcotics trade and assist with reassurance to British Overseas Territories with the continuation of the hurricane season.
