Join Cozumel’s Sea Turtle Hatchling Releases

COZUMEL, Mexico — The public release of sea turtle hatchlings will commence in Cozumel in mid-September 2025, a traditional local activity that strengthens conservation efforts for the two species of sea turtle that nest on the island. The announcement was made by the island’s Deputy Director of Ecology, Noel Rivas Camo.

The species that nest on Cozumel are the Chelonia mydas (Green turtle) and the Caretta caretta (Loggerhead turtle).

Rivas Camo explained that the releases will take place on Thursday and Friday of each week through the month of October. Each event will have a capacity for 30 people in order to maintain minimally invasive practices for the chelonians and to protect them as they make their way to marine life after hatching in their nests.

The release of sea turtle hatchlings, he explained, serves as a way for the public to engage with and appreciate the chelonians, their arrival on the island, and their conservation and protection. These activities are described as highly enriching for younger participants and educational for adults, fostering a conservation-conscious mindset.

The initiative aims not only to address turtle conservation but also to highlight the role of coastal flora in containing the sand that forms the beaches, providing the sandy areas necessary for turtle nesting. It also seeks to recognize the work of brigade volunteers in marking nests.

Attendees will also be instructed on the reproductive cycle and life of sea turtles. They will learn about the types of natural predators the chelonians must face, such as the Cozumel dwarf raccoon, coatis, feral dogs, boas, crocodiles, and even birds. Humans are also considered, and while no cases of human predation have been reported, it is not ruled out, commented Noel Rivas.

Currently, he said, just over 3,500 nests have been registered at the San Martín camp on the island's eastern coast. Of these, approximately 3,250 are Green turtle nests and the remainder are Loggerhead turtle nests.