Save the Sea Turtles

Dear friends,

As we prepare for the upcoming sea turtle nesting season, I want to share the progress we’ve made thanks to your steadfast support. The rains have begun in Nicaragua, signaling the start of a critical time for sea turtles, and our team is working tirelessly to ensure these endangered species have the protection they need.  

Thanks to your generosity, we’ve taken important steps to safeguard nesting beaches and hatcheries. In 2024 alone, we’ve removed over 5,000 pounds of trash from Nicaragua’s coastlines, creating cleaner and safer environments for sea turtles to nest. We’ve also installed new signage in local towns and mangroves, encouraging communities to keep these vital habitats free of litter.  

Our team has been working diligently to prepare for the nesting surge. Both of our turtle nurseries have been thoroughly cleaned and maintained, ensuring they are free from threats like disease and invasive crabs. The care we put into these hatcheries directly impacts the survival of each nest, so this preparation is crucial. Additionally, we’ve provided refresher training for the guards at Rancho Santana and shared useful practices with nearby hotels to help them protect nesting turtles.  

We have also continued our partnership with Rancho Santan resort where their personnel protect the beaches year-round. Earlier this month, our team traveled up to Rancho Santana to give a refresher course on techniques for measuring turtles, recording nests, and maintaining the nursery in ideal conditions for nests. This partnership is especially important because the Colorado Beach at Rancho Santana has a relatively high number of Galapagos Green and Hawksbill sea turtle nests. 

Despite the great things underway with our sea turtle program, the challenges ahead are daunting. Poaching pressure is at an all-time high, and we are deeply concerned about the safety of this season’s nests. But we remain determined. Through our two hatcheries, we work closely with local women who oversee the rescued nests, many of which are brought to us by poachers looking to sell the eggs. While this is a challenging reality, it allows us to give these eggs a fighting chance.  

One of our key focuses this season is Brasilon Beach, a critical nesting site for the endangered Galapagos green turtle. With increased patrols and community engagement, we’re doing everything we can to protect this vital habitat.  

The nesting season is just beginning, and the need for support has never been greater. Will you stand with us in this fight? Together, we can ensure that more sea turtles make it safely to the ocean. 

With Gratitude,

Paso Pacifico