#turtle maui

Actress China McClain has apologized to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources after posting a video to her Instagram account, touching a sea turtle on Maui.

Primary ‘ea nesting beaches occur along the south Ka‘ū coast of Hawai‘i island, south Maui, and eastern Moloka‘i. Both species are federally protected.

An outreach event hosted by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources on Maui will help to educate ocean users about the protection of humpback whales, monk seals, sea turtles and other marine species. Staff will also be on hand to share information on Maui’s new fishing rules, approved in November 2014.

Lights and flash photography can indeed disturb turtles, especially nesting turtles, a turtle looking for a place to rest, or hatchlings trying to find their way to the sea. A flashlight shined on a turtle (at night) for a long period of time could undoubtedly harass an animal back into the water.