30 Turtle Nesting Sites Protect 200K Eggs in Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo — Conservation volunteers have established approximately 30 turtle nesting sites across Isla Mujeres, including areas within Isla Contoy National Park and hotel beaches on the mainland, as part of efforts to safeguard an estimated 200,000 eggs during the 2025 nesting season.

Coordinated Efforts for Turtle Conservation

The initiative involves collaboration between volunteers, staff from the Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancún, and Punta Nizuc National Parks, as well as local hotels and municipal authorities. The goal is to protect endangered turtle species—primarily hawksbill, white, and loggerhead turtles—during their reproductive period from May to October.

A specialized committee, organized by the local government, will monitor 10 nesting sites along the eastern coast nightly. The program aims to rescue and relocate approximately 100,000 eggs to safer, elevated areas for hatching.

Record-Breaking Expectations for Isla Contoy

In 2024, Isla Contoy—dubbed the “Island of Birds”—recorded 33,080 eggs, with 30,895 successfully hatching. Authorities anticipate surpassing these numbers in 2025. The island, designated a Natural Protected Area (ANP) in 2023, is one of 17 such sanctuaries in Mexico.

Hotel staff in Costa Mujeres and Isla Blanca are also participating, with expectations to document over 60,000 eggs. Since 2020, the Municipal Ecology Department has conducted awareness campaigns to train hotel employees in nest protection and hatchling release protocols.

Challenges and Legal Disputes

For the fourth consecutive year, the Tortugranja aquarium remains non-operational due to an unresolved legal dispute over parking access between the federal government and a neighboring landowner. Despite a 2023 concession granting the local government control of the federal zone, a legal barrier prevents entry.

Ongoing Monitoring and Community Involvement

Authorities, alongside academic and business stakeholders, began surveillance in April along Isla Contoy’s eastern coast in anticipation of the nesting season. Nightly patrols will continue through October to ensure the safety of nesting turtles and their eggs.

The conservation effort underscores the importance of community and institutional collaboration in protecting endangered marine species.