Cozumel, Q.R. — The sea turtle nesting season continues to show positive results on the beaches of Punta Sur Ecotourism Park. The Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC) says they continue with ongoing monitoring, nest protection, and hatchling tracking.
According to Ricardo Peralta Muñoz, the technical manager of the Punta Sur Turtle Camp, as of the end of July, 361 protected nests have been registered of which 69 are of loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and 292 of green or white turtle (Chelonia mydas).
Conservation efforts are already showing results with the first hatchlings of the season. So far, 831 turtle hatchlings have been released which include 215 green sea turtles and 616 loggerhead turtles.
As part of its comprehensive protection strategy, the FPMC also organizes beach clean-up days with the participation of volunteers who help maintain the nesting areas in optimal condition.
Thanks to this joint effort, 1,134.5 kilograms of solid waste have been removed, facilitating both the arrival of the females and the safe passage of the hatchlings to the ocean.
The Director of Conservation and Environmental Education, Rafael Chacón Díaz, emphasized that the combined efforts of the institution and the community have been fundamental in strengthening the protection of sea turtles and raising awareness about the importance of conserving coastal ecosystems.
He noted that every volunteer who participates in these actions becomes an ally in the conservation of Cozumel’s natural heritage.
Juanita Alonso Marrufo, the general director of the FPMC, pointed out that these results are a testament to the constant work that the institution has been carrying out for more than three decades to protect sea turtles, a task that also strengthens environmental education and community commitment to the natural heritage of Cozumel.
