Establishment of sea turtle hatcheries
Planificacion actividades con voluntarios
actividades diarias
Description
Hatcheries are a useful tool in in-situ sea turtle conservation, helping to protect nests that may be affected by poaching, natural predation and climate change impacts related to rising sea levels. They also play a crucial role in monitoring nesting success, tracking data such as number of eggs laid vs. hatched , arrival and hatching dates, becoming an effective mechanism for the conservation of these important species.
To safeguard vulnerable nests, a nursery was built on the beach following current regulations, especially for the protection of nests that needed to be protected ex situ due to the risk of anthropogenic activities. The nursery was located close to the hotels to benefit from permanent security. It has a rectangular shape, 50 m wide and 20 m long, and 1.9 m high to facilitate accessibility and management. The structure is light and up to 100 nests can be relocated in the space at a density of 1 nest per square meter. The clutches have codes that are listed in the logbook.
Enabling factors
During the period from 2023 to 2024, 1,803 neonates hatched from the nests transferred to the nursery, achieving a hatching success rate of 63.49%, which were released on the beach. Additionally, during the period, 38 releases of neonates were carried out.
One of the key messages is the engagement of civil society actors, which allows to implement private investment mechanisms in biodiversity conservation and management. This experience demonstrates that the articulation and investment of private companies in biodiversity conservation management is possible, ensuring the protection and sustainability of vital ecosystem services