Despite Pandemic, Puerto Morelos Plans to Protect Sea Turtles
Government of Puerto Morelos Reaffirms Commitment to Promote Conservation of Sea Turtles
Despite the pandemic, the responsibility and commitment to care for sea turtles, an endangered species, has not been neglected, said biologist Veronica Juarez, head of the Sea Turtle Protection Program in the municipality of Puerto Morelos.
She said that the government of Puerto Morelos today reaffirms its commitment to promote the protection and conservation of sea turtles, reinforcing its surveillance patrols in the nesting areas and other informative and awareness actions directed to the community.
She also pointed out that so far 16 Loggerhead and 29 White marine turtle nests have been counted, in the area of Punta Brava alone, which is the main nesting area on the coast of Puerto Morelos, along with Punta Caracol and Punta Petempich.
He emphasized that in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic that is still in force, the responsibility and commitment to care for sea turtles, which return year after year to these sandy beaches to lay their eggs, has not been neglected.
In the framework of World Sea Turtle Day, the biologist informed that surveillance patrols have been reinforced since the first nest was detected last month. Signs will be posted so that people are informed of what they can do to protect the nesting areas, such as not walking pets on the beach, lighting bonfires, riding ATVs, or littering.
“In the event, you see a turtle on the beach during the current nesting season, people should not use flashlights, do not take flash photos, keep a distance of two meters from the turtle and never try to ride it”, commented Verónica Juárez.
She explained that turtles carry out their nesting process at night, generally between 8 pm and 5 am which is why they have the greatest visual sensitivity.
The Sea Turtle Protection Program announced that an information stand was set up at the reception of the Municipal Secretariat of Urban Development and Ecology. One of the permanent strategies of the municipal government is to have beach clean-up days in the nesting areas, to help the conservation of the sea turtles’ habitat.
Finally, Juarez mentioned that in coordination with authorities such as the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), the Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa), the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR), the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) and the Municipal Secretariat of Public Security, supervision and surveillance tours are carried out, to prevent the looting of eggs, adult turtles and hatchlings, as well as reporting any damage caused to the populations of this species and their habitat.
Souce: El Punto Sobre La i