A record number of sea turtle hatchlings were counted and released into the Caribbean sea this season as part of a decades-long conservation effort run by the Mexican branch of the Eco-Bahia Foundation.
The Foundation’s turtle conservation program is focused on recording and monitoring nesting activity at Playa Aventuras, considered a key ‘index beach’ for research across the wider Caribbean region.
With the season not yet complete, the Foundation reported preliminary findings that showed over 1,600 nests recorded and more than 142,000 hatchlings released into the ocean.
A tagging program was undertaken simultaneously by the Flora, Fauna and Culture of Mexico Association, which resulted in the successful tagging of 172 individuals for identification and tracking.
Green Sea Turtles accounted for around two-thirds of the total number of nests and individuals, with the remaining third being Loggerhead Turtles.
Eco-Baiha’s team included five specialized field technicians who were supported by Environmental Engineering students from the Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas.
“Playa Aventuras DIF reminds us every day of the enormous responsibility we hold as guardians of one of the Caribbean’s most iconic species,” said Luis Verdín, Manager of Eco-Bahia Mexico.
“Each protected nest and each released hatchling fuels our determination to continue working with science and dedication.”
The Green Sea Turtle was reclassified from Endangered to Least Concern earlier this year, thanks in no small part to the effort of organizations like the Eco-Bahia Foundation.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature still considers the Loggerhead Turtle to be a vulnerable species, with threats including loss of nesting habitat and abandoned fishing equipment.
