After all these years
How
AUGUST 2019 YACHTING7 7HATCHING A PLAN
Lemuel Pemberton has made Nevis a safer nesting place for endangered sea turtles.
by kristin baird rattinit
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W
hen lemuel pemberton fi rst
thought about launching a turtle
conservation program on Nevis, he
wasn’t even sure if the Caribbean is-
land was home to enough turtles to make a monitoring
program worthwhile. The answer proved a resounding
yes. Not only were loggerheads foraging off shore, but
there were nesting populations of leatherback, green
and, especially, hawksbill turtles. Pemberton
founded the Nevis Turtle Group in 2003.
¶ After starting out with small night patrols
of nesting beaches, Pemberton has gained
valuable partners. He developed a sea turtle
conservation program for the Four Seasons
Resort Nevis, where hatchlings disoriented by
the resort’s lights were crawling toward the
swimming pool rather than the ocean. Prince Harry
paid a visit frompaid a visit from the United Kingdom the United King in November
2016, working with Pemberton at Lovers Beach—
the island’s top nesting site—to release hatchlings
and conduct an egg count. “That was the highlight
of the season,” Pemberton says. ¶ He also has cre-
ated a strong volunteer corps among local youth.
“They’re now able to do the egg counts, tagging and
measuring all on their own,” he says. “It’s exciting to
pass on this work from one generation to the next.”How did it feel to host Prince Harry? That
was an exciting time for the Nevis Turtle Group.
People all around the world heard about us and the
work that we do. After all these years, what still
thrills you about working with turtles? It’s a
thrill to see the same turtles return. We have fewer
green sea turtles, so when you see one you tagged
in 2004 coming back in 2018, you feel happy. How
can visitors participate in Nevis Turtle Group
activities? They can come along on a turtle watch
with us from June through December. They can
learn more at our website, nevisturtlegroup.org.I
INSIGHTS> ISLANDICONST. KITTS
AND NEVISCARIBBEANLemuel Pemberton has a devoted following of volunteers, including local youth who help him count turtle eggs and more.
PEMBERTON’S PICKS ON NEVISLOVERS BEACH: It’s the best beach for turtle watching.
ESMIE’S SUNRISE (St. James Parish): It’s great for local food and atmo-
sphere, and authentic local music. It’s adjacent to the historic
Eden Brown Estate. BODDIE’S CAFÉ (Charlestown): Enjoy great local
food while you take in the sights and sounds of Charlestown.
SUNSHINE’S BAR, LOUNGE & GRILL (Pinney’s Beach): Come here for the
seafood and the world-renowned “Killer Bee” rum punch.