Sea Turtle Deaths Rise in Mexico Due to Tourism and Sargassum

Quintana Roo, Mexico — At least 10 sea turtle accidents have been recorded in the Mexican Caribbean in recent weeks, with three caused by boat propeller strikes in open waters and the others found dead on beaches. Gisela Maldonado Saldaña, president of the Grupo Tortuguero del Caribe, stated that most cases are linked to intense aquatic activities and collisions with rocks.

Tourism Activities Pose Growing Threat

The majority of incidents have been concentrated in the northern Mexican Caribbean, particularly between Isla Mujeres and Cancún, with one case reported in Puerto Morelos. Maldonado urgently called for increased awareness of the vulnerability of sea turtles, an endangered species.

“The heavy traffic from activities like whale shark watching, snorkeling, boat tours, and jet skis is a major trigger for these incidents. Turtles cannot always move quickly enough to avoid collisions or becoming trapped,” explained the biologist.

Maldonado noted that sea turtle populations follow biennial cycles, with higher numbers expected in odd-numbered years like 2025. However, a disruption in this pattern has been observed, with small arrivals recorded annually, possibly indicating population growth.

Nesting Increases but Faces Challenges

The biologist highlighted an increase in nesting, particularly of green turtles, while hawksbill and loggerhead populations have remained stable. This progress is attributed to the joint efforts of volunteers, conservation camps, and municipal governments.

Despite the rise in nesting, hatching success has been low in some cases. In 2024, the Isla Contoy sanctuary reported a record number of nests but also high mortality due to adverse weather conditions and flooding.

“The year has started well. Hawksbills have already arrived, and loggerheads and green turtles began appearing last month,” Maldonado said.

Sargassum Adds to Sea Turtles’ Struggles

The influx of sargassum seaweed presents another growing risk. The macroalgae obstructs hatchlings’ path to the sea and, as it decomposes, produces leachates and heat on the sand, damaging reefs and seagrass—key food sources for green turtles. It also hinders monitoring efforts by volunteers.

“Supervision vehicles cannot access beaches when there’s excessive sargassum, reducing response capacity,” Maldonado explained. She also warned that some hotels use heavy machinery to clean beaches, damaging nesting areas and violating environmental regulations set by Semarnat.

Decline in Loggerhead Turtles in Akumal

Héctor Lizárraga Cubedo, director of the Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA), reported a decrease in loggerhead turtle arrivals this year compared to the same period in 2024, when 105 were recorded.

“Sargassum may be one of the causes—this is currently under investigation,” he said.

Both experts agreed that if massive sargassum arrivals continue, 2025 could prove challenging for sea turtle nesting in the Mexican Caribbean.