Green sea turtle

Photo: caymanmatt · CC BY

Green sea turtles are the dominant large grazer in Pollard Bay's seagrass beds, where they crop turtle grass to a managed height that promotes rapid regrowth and maintains the high-quality habitat on which smaller invertebrates and fish depend. Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac have a long, troubled history with sea turtle exploitation, and the current recovery of the green turtle population represents decades of protection efforts. Grazing individuals can be observed in the shallows throughout the day, surfacing periodically to breathe before descending again to feed.