First Sea Turtle Nests of Season Found in Tulum Despite Sargassum Challenges

Tulum, Quintana Roo — The Akumal Ecological Center (CEA) reported the first loggerhead sea turtle nest of the season on Bahía de Media Luna beach, marking the start of what officials hope will be a favorable nesting period despite environmental challenges such as sargassum seaweed.

Héctor Antonio Lizárraga Cubedo, the center’s executive director, said the discovery is the result of ongoing monitoring and conservation programs. These include tracking juvenile turtles in Akumal Bay, assessing tourism impacts on their habitat, and restoring coral reefs within the marine species protection refuge.

Based on records from the past two years, when about 770 nests were counted per season, Lizárraga expects the current cycle to maintain a similar or higher trend.

“Despite the arrival of sargassum, we are confident that this will be an important season for nesting,” he said.

In parallel, the CEA is helping develop and update management programs for the northern and southern basin commissions in which Tulum municipality participates. These efforts include participatory workshops to define environmental management guidelines for the region.

The center is also working with the private sector to create the Municipal Program for the Prevention and Integrated Management of the Circular Economy of Solid Waste in Tulum, which would be the first such instrument in Quintana Roo.