“Join the Turtle Conservation Movement in Cozumel: Hatchling Release Program & Nighttime Monitoring!”

As marine turtle nesting season begins, the local government of Cozumel is encouraging island residents to participate in the hatchling release program led by the Ecology subdirectorate. This initiative aims to conserve the turtle species, which annually nests on the island's shores.

The Ecology Subdirector, Germán Yáñez Mendoza, emphasized that this program, endorsed by Mayor Juanita Alonso Marrufo, is part of a broader environmental conservation effort. The objective is to foster a sense of responsibility among citizens towards the protection of marine species, particularly the turtles that lay their eggs on the island's coasts each year.

Mendoza explained that the program is open for participation on Thursdays and Fridays throughout September and October. While there is no age restriction, participants must be island residents and spaces are limited.

The Ecology Subdirectorate, through the San Martín Turtle Camp, is also continuing its nighttime monitoring program to aid and protect marine turtles. As of the end of August, the program has recorded a total of 3,197 "green" turtle nests and 70 "loggerhead" nests.