Visitors to KAUST’s Marina may be surprised to find a new addition to the waters there: “Fred” the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricta) has taken up residence within the Marina’s limits.
Spotting Fred
Discovered by the dock crews working at the Marina, Fred is now a firm favorite, causing much excitement when he surfaces for breath or cruises under the jetties to search for food.
Getting a photo of Fred is hard work, though, as he is very shy and dives beneath the surface the moment he senses a human is present. Keep very still and you may just get a close-up look at Fred and the school of small fish that swim alongside him, waiting for him to drop scraps of food from his mouth.
Hawksbill Facts
Hawksbill turtles get their name from the unique shape of their head, which is tapered at the end and resembles a bird’s beak. They are a highly migratory species, usually living in the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, where they stay close to coral reefs and rest in caves and on ledges during the day.
The hawksbill diet consists primarily of sea sponges, but the turtles are omnivorous and will also eat marine algae, crustaceans, sea urchins, fish, jellyfish, and mollusks.
Their hard shells and armored heads protect them from the dangerous stings of their prey, but they often fall victim to large fish, crocodiles, sharks, and humans.
Migration and Baby Turtles
As with other sea turtles, hawksbills migrate long distances to move from feeding areas to nesting grounds. They mate every two to three years in lagoons near their nesting sites, which are usually remote tropical beaches.
When nesting, female turtles move onto the beach during the night, digging a pit in the sand into which they lay their eggs. They then cover the eggs with sand and return to the water. The baby turtles hatch about 60 days later.
Baby hawksbills have a heart-shaped carapace (upper shell) which hardens and elongates as they grow older. After hatching they move instinctively towards the water, attracted, as some believe, by the moon’s reflection on its surface.
This journey is the most dangerous part of a sea turtle’s life, as gulls, crabs, and other predators will prey on the baby turtles while they crawl to the ocean.
Endangered Species
Despite their lifespan of 30 – 50 years, hawksbills are a critically endangered species, mostly due to the actions of humans. Humans eat the turtles and their eggs, and there is demand for their beautiful shells.
Fred is a very welcome addition to the KAUST Marina, and always puts a smile on visitors’ faces when he’s seen slipping quietly between the pontoons at the Marina.
If you get the chance to see him, remember: Fred is a unique and valuable part of the marine environment we must all strive to protect.
4 comments
How did he get the name “Fred”?
I’m new to KAUST and would like to visit Fred.When is the Marina open for visitors?
I may have bad news. On Friday morning I saw a turtle in the harbor that seemed to be in distress but I didn’t know who to contact. On Saturday I can see what appears to be a dead turtle floating in the same place, maybe 30m from the harbor wall, opposite the second “shelter” – 300m towards the canal from the road bridge.
I can only assume that it was tethered as it didn’t move for two days. Maybe someone placed a net or fishing lines out there and it got tangled, it’s too far away to see. If it is indeed a turtle it is a tragedy, particularly if it was avoidable.
Francis,
Thank you for getting in touch with us about the turtle. After speaking with Howard Jackson from Marine Services, we have confirmed that a turtle did indeed die in the harbor, although it was not Fred. Marine Services continues to work to prevent wildlife incidents such as this through proactive environmental education. If you or anyone else should see a marine animal in distress, please contact Marine Services at 808 6634 / 808 6621 or Howard Jackson at 054 470 1672, and someone will assist.