Riviera Maya, Q.R. — In celebration of World Sea Turtle Day, the Eco-Bahía Ecological Foundation, promoted by Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, celebrated with a ceremony.
The day was celebrated with a Mayan ceremony Friday evening at Playa Aventuras DIF where a large sand sea turtle was made by Fred Balam Art, who received recognition for his outstanding contribution to ecological awareness and the protection of these important and endangered species.
Children from the Mayan Community Center of Otoch Paal also participated in the ceremony. Wearing traditional Mayan clothing, they participated in the laying of good luck flowers around the sea turtle.
“We are excited to start the sea turtle nesting season in 2023, a year with new challenges. Complying with the usual procedures for the protection of this species, we hope to achieve a spectacular season closing in October, with the participation of the Foundation and the whole community,” said Yuritzi Espino, Manager of the Eco-Bahia Ecological Foundation.
Along the coasts of Quintana Roo, hundreds of turtle nests have already been found and marked. Isla Mujeres has reported locating 152 nests with 17,409 eggs along its beaches since May 15, their official start to the season.
Centro Ecologico Akumal, which is 28 kilometers north of Tulum, has reported 178 nests between Half Moon Bay (7 nests), Akumal (32 nests), Jade Bay (20) and South Akumal (7). Those were nests counted up until June 13.
On World Sea Turtle Day, the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC) reported 202 nests. The nests were located within the first 50 days of the 2023 season.
The Director of Conservation and Environmental Education (CEA), Rafael Chacón Díaz, said some of the nests were found in April, a bit ahead of the usual start to the season which is May.