High mortality of sea turtles may also be caused by dredging activities for maintenance of ship channels. In some states, including South Carolina, the use of such dredges is now confined to the winter months when turtles are not present in coastal waters. Human influences and habitat Development on barrier islands also affects loggerhead sea turtles. On many of these islands, hard structures such as sea walls and rock revetments have been constructed to resist erosion and protect houses and hotels. Natural sand dunes, the nesting habitat for the loggerhead, are destroyed in the process.
Developed beaches pose another problem for hatchlings.
One of the loggerhead's major nesting concentrations is in the southeastern United States from North Carolina to Florida. As noted above, undeveloped beaches are essential to their successful nesting activities. In South Carolina, the primary nesting beaches are between North Inlet and Price's Inlet, including Bull and Capers Islands. Other undeveloped beaches in the southern part of the state, such as Hunting and Otter Islands, also have moderate nesting densities. The Department of Natural Resources has taken active management steps to control activities that negatively impact sea turtles and it is monitoring the nesting population to determine if such efforts are succeeding.