Cozumel Sees 357 Sea Turtle Nests in July

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — The Punta Sur Turtle Camp, operated by the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC), documented 357 sea turtle nests in July, including 128 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and 229 green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests.

The ongoing Sea Turtle Protection Program involves daily patrols to mark and monitor nests, according to Rafael Chacón Díaz, Director of Conservation and Environmental Education. He emphasized that sustained conservation efforts are critical to the program’s success.

A key initiative has been the removal of solid waste washed ashore by tides, which obstructs turtles from reaching nesting sites. So far this season, 342 volunteers have collected 2,448 kilograms of debris.

Carlos Ricardo Peralta Muñoz, the camp’s coordinator, noted an unusual trend this season: the arrival of younger turtles, potentially signaling a generational shift in the population. To date, 695 hatchlings have been released—58 green turtles and 637 loggerheads.

FPMC General Director Juanita Alonso Marrufo underscored the broader significance of the conservation work. "Protecting sea turtles not only safeguards an iconic species but also reinforces our collective commitment to biodiversity and the future of coming generations," she said.

The camp continues its monitoring efforts as the nesting season progresses.