Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Despite expectations of a slow nesting year, Playa del Carmen has recorded 1,200 sea turtle nests and the release of 22,000 hatchlings so far this season, putting the municipality on track to surpass last year’s totals.
Yamili Colli Cach, the municipality’s deputy director of environmental education and outreach, said sargassum does not appear to be affecting turtle arrivals or nesting.
“You know we have a high year followed by a low one. This one was considered low, but the numbers have been strong, and there are still two months left in the season,” she said.
The 2025 season was considered one of the most successful, with 1,700 nests recorded in total.
As of late August, 22,000 hatchlings have been released in Playa del Carmen, both in protected corrals and directly on the beach. Most are green sea turtles, the predominant species in the municipality.
“August is the peak for arrivals. They continue after that, but in smaller numbers. We’ve had arrivals even in November, and those hatch in December or January,” Colli Cach said.
More Environment
- Mexico Rejects Environmental Permit for Colonial-Style Hotel in Bacalar
- Cancún Reaches Record Sargassum Collection in 2026 Season
- Sargassum Cleanup Accelerates Beach Erosion in Akumal, Workers Warn
- UN Warns Pig Farms Threaten Yucatan’s Maya Communities, Calls for Justice Plan
- Disturbed Mangrove Area in Mexico Grows Fivefold; Yucatán Peninsula Leads
More Playa del Carmen
- Internal Divisions Threaten PAN Comeback in Playa del Carmen
- Two Arrested, Drugs Seized, Minors Rescued in Playa del Carmen Raid
- Motorcyclist Dies After Crashing Under Trailer on Playa del Carmen Boulevard
- Playa del Carmen Taxi Union Expels 18 Drivers Over Abuse Complaints
- Suspected Rat Poison Found Along Popular Playa del Carmen Dog-Walking Route
