A whopping 240 people were rescued from the Gulf in Panama City Beach in last 6 days! msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
As a local nonprofit organization, his group works to identify and protect sea turtle nests along more than 17 miles of beaches in Bay County, from St. Andrews State Park to Camp Helen State Park.
Last year, PCB Turtle Watch tagged 47 nests, of which the majority were loggerheads. Some also were green sea turtles. Both are threatened species.
According to Beach Councilman Phil Chester, Florida beaches are responsible for about 90% of all sea turtles nesting in the U.S.
Because of this, Chester said it is apparent the Panhandle plays a crucial role in the survival of sea turtles. We whole-heartedly support and appreciate the efforts of Turtle Watch and their many volunteers, he wrote in an email. We ask everyone to be mindful of the turtle nests and leave no trace on the beach overnight.
During that same time, Beach police also conducted 44 traffic stops on motorcyclists and issued 16 citations. Motorcycling is a fun activity enjoyed by thousands, but it can also be dangerous, Councilman Phil Chester wrote in an email. We do see a number of accidents each year involving motorcycles and not just during the rally. The rally (does, however, increase) the risk simply because there are more riders here and because it is during a heavy travel time for tourists.
Thunder Beach draws thousands of bikers from across the nation, which is important for the Beach since tourism is its No. 1 industry, Chester added.