Quintana Roo Safeguards 13,000+ Sea Turtle Nests

Riviera Maya, QR — Authorities report that the number of Loggerhead and White Sea turtles has increased this year along the beaches of Quintana Roo, with more than 13,000 nests recorded so far this season.

Cozumel Reports 357 Nests

In Cozumel, 357 nests have been documented at the Punta Sur turtle camp, operated by the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC). Carlos Ricardo Peralta Muñoz, the camp manager, stated that 128 are Loggerhead nests and 229 belong to White Sea turtles.

"Turtles released approximately 20 years ago are now returning to these beaches to continue their reproductive cycle, while the presence of older turtles has declined," Peralta Muñoz said. From Cozumel’s nests, 695 hatchlings have been released, including 58 White Sea turtles and 637 Loggerheads.

Playa del Carmen Monitors 1,500 Nests

In Playa del Carmen, 1,500 nests are currently being monitored. Samantha Álvarez Hernández, Secretary of Sustainable Environment, noted that this figure reflects a positive trend with no significant impact from sargassum.

Six conservation camps operate along the coastal strip, where seven specialized staff work around the clock with ATV support to oversee the nests. "This surveillance has allowed us to maintain control over nesting areas and respond immediately to incidents," Álvarez Hernández said.

Only one incident has been reported this year—a coatimundi digging up a nest. "An isolated case of a coatimundi attacking a nest was reported, but no poaching or other threats have been documented, so the balance remains favorable so far," she added.

Cancún Leads with Over 3,500 Nests

Cancún has reported the highest number of nests by late July, with 3,528 recorded. Fernando Haro Salinas, Director of Cancún’s Ecology Department, stated that a total of 3,528 sea turtle nests have been registered this year, containing 427,901 eggs, with 2,945 hatchlings released from 43 protected pens.

The effort is conducted in collaboration with hotels along the 12 kilometers of beach designated as turtle nesting areas. Patrols operate day and night to safeguard the eggs in the pens. Haro Salinas confirmed that 15 sea turtle strandings have been reported to date.

Statewide Protection Efforts

Itandehui Ramos, President of the Quintana Roo State Committee for the Conservation, Research, and Management of Sea Turtles, confirmed that over 13,800 sea turtle nests are currently protected along the entire coastline of Quintana Roo.

The coordinated efforts across the region highlight the success of conservation programs in safeguarding these endangered species and ensuring their continued survival.