Loggerhead Sea Turtle Krysta Begins Tracked Journey from Coquina Beach
A crowd gathered at Coquina Beach to witness the successful release of a nesting loggerhead sea turtle named Krysta as part of the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s annual Tour de Turtles program.
The release was organized by the Sea Turtle Conservancy in partnership with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and sponsored by Hurricane Hanks. The program is designed to increase public awareness of the challenges sea turtles face, with Krysta’s journey highlighting the effects of beach erosion on nesting sea turtles along Florida’s coast.
Before returning to the Gulf of Mexico, Krysta was fitted with a satellite tracking device that will allow researchers to monitor her movements and gather valuable data about loggerhead migration patterns and behavior. The tracking information will also be available to the public, giving residents and sea turtle enthusiasts an opportunity to follow her travels in real time.
The event drew supporters of all ages, who gathered on the beach to watch Krysta make her way back into the Gulf while celebrating ongoing sea turtle conservation efforts on Anna Maria Island.
Members of the public can track Krysta’s progress and follow other satellite-tagged sea turtles through the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s online turtle tracker.
