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Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation reports 15 percent increase in nesting sea turtles

Cozumel, Q.R. — An increase of nearly 15 percent has been recorded in the arrival of sea turtles to the island. The Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC) says during the island’s first two months of the sea turtle season, they have recorded 332 nests, 14.48 percent more than the same time last year.

The nests are recorded at the Punta Sur Tortuguero Camp where staff and community volunteers monitor the four kilometers stretch of beach each day.

Ricardo Peralta Muñoz, director of Conservation and Environmental Education (CEA), said that of the 332 nests recorded so far, 232 are white sea turtle and 100 loggerhead. He noted that the nests have been located thanks to the more than 100 community volunteers who signed up for the 2022 season.

Muñoz explained that while volunteers do locate and monitor sea turtle nests, they also remove beach garbage to provide an obstacle free path for the arriving females. He says this year already, 623 kilos of garbage of have removed from the island’s beach.

Program volunteers are also responsible for geo-locating, marking and registering the nests found. In some instances, Muñoz said it has been necessary to relocate the nests due to their close proximity to the water since tidal movements can expose the eggs. He said they have already released some hatchlings.