| Cozumel Turtle Salvation Program |
 The indigenous Mayan population of Cozumel has enjoyed consuming turtle meat and turtle eggs as part of their diet for hundreds of years. Being large, clumsy animals that are easily captured while nesting, white sea turtle meat became a staple part of every Mayan family's food supply. The meat is cooked and plated or prepared in a soup while the eggs are a favorite among drinkers at local cantinas. Myth has it that consuming the raw turtle eggs will improve a man's virility.
Perhaps the turtle populations of past eras could support such consumption but this is not the case now. Only through education of younger generations combined with strong salvation programs will anyone be able to save the sea turtles from extinction.
During the Cozumel nesting season, the City works in co-ordination with local police and Federal armed forces to limit activity on the east side at nights during turtle nesting season. In the evenings of nesting season, only the salvation program participants with specifically designated biologists, interns, and volunteers are allowed to walk the beaches in search of nesting female turtles, turtle nests, and recent hatchlings. Among their duties include the protecting and tagging of females, the collection scientific data, the relocation of eggs to more favorable locations on the beach, and the release of hatchlings to the sea. From the data collected, the salvation program is then able to determine turtle hatching success, behavior, distribution, and population.
At this time there are essentially two turtle salvation efforts in progress:
- The Parks and Museum Foundation's Punta Sur Park Salvation Program - This program began in 2000 and covers the beach area from the entrance of Punta Sur Park all the way to the south lighthouse. Since access to the park is closed to the public at night, this program enjoys significant protection from poachers. This is a FOR PROFIT endeavor that offers tours that are publicized through the Cozumel Museum. Tickets for these excursions run about $40 per person and are sold through the Cozumel Museum downtown.
 The City of San Miguel's Volunteer Salvation Program - This program began back in the late 1980's and covers the beaches from Mezcalitos south to the Punta Sur Park entrance. What began as a grassroots effort by a few citizens interested in turtle conservation, eventually evolved into a small City funded program whereby the City relied upon volunteers to do the nightly work, but were able to fund the salaries of 2 biologists to supervise the sanctuary and the work of the volunteers. For many years, no other funds were available to further develop the program or to provide supplies, gas or vehicles for the volunteer groups working the beaches each night. We offer our thanks for the generous contributions to support the 2007 season.
In 2003 - 2004 island tourism increased significantly with the opening of several new hotels and many more cruise ships stopping in Cozumel than ever before. With this increased activity all around the island, the local population became more aware of conservation related issues. In response to community calls, the City increased its conservation efforts overall and as a result the Turtle Salvation Program has received more attention and funding than in the past. Even so, the Turtle Salvation Program of Cozumel can be considered in its infancy and still lacks resources to do all of the research and investigation that is necessary each year.
1. Participate
During turtle nesting season, a different Volunteer Brigade is assigned to each night of the week. Due to changes in monitoring methodology over the years, the size of the Brigade is not as important as it once was in the past. So for the most part, all brigades are well staffed throughout the season.
 Many visitors email us inquiring if they can contribute some of their vacation time and participate in the Turtle Salvation Program while they are here. In the past, the City discouraged the inclusion of tourists simply because they have no training or skill in dealing with these fragile animals and their nests. However, beginning with the 2006 season, in an attempt to generate more interest and increase awareness of Cozumel’s turtle population, the Turtle Salvation Program’s governing Committee of Brigades has made a provision to allow “one time guests” to participate in the Program provided these guests are supervised and work within the structure of a Brigade.
Those wanting to participate and work with a Brigade for 1 or 2 nights during their vacation stay must request permission in advance, be approved and be assigned to a Brigade. To make a request to participate visitors can email details and dates to turtles@cozumelinsider.com. NOTE: Email requests are submitted to an approval process and are handled on first-come, first-serve basis. Please allow 4-6 weeks for a response.
2. Donate Supplies for Biologists and Brigadistas
 Even though the Turtle Salvation Program is now getting more attention and a bit more funding from the City and some Federal agencies than in the past, resources are still scarce. The increased funding the past few years has gone toward purchasing a vehicle and funding 1 additional biologist (total of 3) for the season’s work.
As mentioned earlier, each Volunteer Brigade is assigned a night of the week to work during turtle season. The group leader for each night is responsible for coordinating the activities and providing supplies for the volunteers.
Essentially nothing is provided by the City really ~ the Volunteer Brigades follow pre-determined methodologies and utilize their own supplies and equipment. This usually works well for most of the nesting season but often, as tourism slows for low season and cash runs short among the volunteers, much needed supplies cannot be re-stocked so the overall effort suffers.
Even though the City is unable to provide supplies like flashlights, batteries or funding for gas or extra vehicles, if some one went to the City and said, "I'd like to make a donation to the turtle salvation program." The City Cashier would take the money and provide a receipt but the funds would all go into the General Fund. Perhaps the Turtle Program Director would be made aware he had some extra money to use and then again, maybe not. In general, it would be highly unlikely that a monetary donation of any kind would ever see it's way to the most critical level of the program: to the volunteers for supplies, gas or necessities.
However, those wanting to help CAN contribute in ways that will directly affect the cause. The best way to help is with the contribution of actual supplies being used by the Volunteer Brigades.
Turtle Salvation Program Supplies Wish List
- Small Hand-held Flashlights
- Forehead-Mount Flashlights for Hands-Free Working
- Small Spotlights - Car Battery Powered (via cigarette lighter)
- Batteries – AAA, AA, D
- Multi-channel 2-way Radios with protective plastic covers
- Surveyor’s Plastic Marking Tape – orange or pink neon color
- Seamstress Measuring Tapes
- Latex Gloves
- First Aid Kits
- Pens
- Black Waterproof Markers (Thin Tip Sharpie)
- Heavy Duty Small/Medium Trash Bags (NO BLACK)
- Disposable Rain Ponchos
- Water, Soft drinks, Ice Chests
- Gasoline Vouchers from Local Stations
- Propane Gas Lanterns
- 50 meter measuring tapes (on rolls)
- Spring scale capacidad 100 gr
- Spring scale capacidad 60 gr
- Any literature or reference books on marine turtles ~ Spanish or English
A great place to contribute supplies in this way is through the American Community Services [ACS] office. Donors may designate a specific Volunteer Brigade to receive their donations or ACS will simply give the donated items where most needed within the turtle program. Currently, ACS funds/supplies ONE of the Volunteer Brigades for the duration of the nesting season. The Grupo IslaMar Brigade works one night each week with 6+ volunteers. With additional supply contributions from those wanting to help the Turtle Salvation Program, ACS can distribute excess supplies to other Volunteer Brigades that work on other nights.
In no way does American Community Services or Grupo Islamar profit from these endeavors. Both entities simply serve the community: one as an effective conduit for facilitation, the other doing all the actual turtle program work with volunteers. Stop by the American Community Services office anytime to look at photos of the turtles and volunteers in action as well as make contributions.
ACS is located at 602-B [Upstairs] Raphael Melgar - Next to the Naval Base - Phone: 869-0504
| The Future of Turtles in Cozumel |
In other parts of the Caribbean turtles have become "tourized." While the consensus is that this is the future for saving the turtle population, Cozumel has not yet come to grips with what to do with their nesting turtles. Punta Sur Park is showing that Cozumel's turtles can be tourized as well. But remember: they control only a small percentage of the nesting beaches. The remaining beaches must be protected from poaching until it's determined how Cozumel wants to handle their remaining nesting beaches. We can only hope that they will come to their senses, realize the beauty of the asset they have from April to September each year and continue to increase the funding to vigorously protect and promote turtle nesting on all the other public beaches.
 As more and more tourists hear about the nesting turtles, many climb into cars and head out for the other side of the island just to take a look for themselves. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS!! Because the volunteers then have double the work. First they have the physically exhausting tasks of tagging and excavating nests and then having to spend valuable time explaining to stray tourists why they can't walk on the beach or shine their headlights toward the water takes valuable time away from actual turtle monitoring.
There are military personnel and police guarding the passageways to the east side of the island in all directions. One check-point is set up at the north end (Mezcalito’s) while another is set up at the south end (Rasta Bar). The task of the check-point officers is to stop anyone and everyone going into the areas where turtles are nesting and volunteers are working.
You must have a valid ID badge issued by the City in order to pass into the restricted areas and you must be accompanied by Brigade Volunteers.
| Guidelines for Turtle Observation |
Sometimes, tourists visiting the bars inside the nesting areas find themselves having to leave after dark at the request of Police or military personnel. If this happens to you ~ please do your part to help the turtles by following these guidelines during turtle nesting season:
- Use only parking lights between Mescalito's and Paradise Café
- Drive slowly because volunteers are walking on the roadways in low light conditions
- Be quiet because loud noises scare turtles back into the sea without laying eggs
- Never illuminate the beach or ocean in nesting areas
- Observe turtles from the roadside only
- Do not walk on beaches at night during the nesting season
Please Note: Federal law prohibits touching, molesting or disturbing turtles or their nests. Violators will be prosecuted and are subject to fines, penalties, and jail sentences.
Turtle Season of 2004
The 2004 turtle salvation program season got underway earlier this year as all participating groups vowed to work together this season as a cohesive committee. Weekly meetings were held discussing monitoring methodology and record keeping. Volunteer groups were scheduled to work each night of the week, the sanctuary area for endangered nests was prepared and the military along with police were once again in charge of security to prevent visitors on the east side after dark.
The monitoring methodology used in the 2004 season was to mark the turtle nests with GPS without excavating the eggs unless it was determined that the nest was in danger of poaching or natural elements. If the nest was deemed to be in danger then it would be excavated and the eggs relocated elsewhere on that same beach or to the sanctuary if necessary. After the appropriate incubation period, volunteers were then to return to the nest site, excavate and determine how many of that nest's eggs had actually hatched. The one downside to this methodology is that while it can be determined how many eggs actually hatched, it cannot be proven these hatchlings actually made it to the ocean. Some could have been taken by natural predators and not made it to the sea at all.
The season was going well with all volunteer groups reporting a high level of turtles coming in to lay nests each night. Unfortunately, much of the work done by the volunteers (and the turtles) was undone this season by Mother Nature as hurricane IVAN passed near the island. Even though IVAN was 250 miles away, the wave heights created along the east coast of Cozumel were significant enough to relocate huge boulders into the middle of the highway. The east coast took a severe beating from this storm and sand at virtually all of the turtle nesting beaches were either swept away (taking turtle nests with it) or piled up 3-4 ft higher than normal.
Volunteer groups reported finding nests 3-4 foot deeper than originally recorded due to the pile up of sand on some beaches. The hatchlings in these nests did not have the strength to dig through this quantity of sand to survive. With that in mind, the focus of the remainder of the season shifted to locating the existing nests as they were about to hatch. Once located again with GPS, volunteers would dig out the hatchlings and release them so as to give them a chance to live.
While the 2004 season was a disappointment in terms of monitoring and the devastation caused by IVAN, the volunteers ended the season on a positive note November 15th, 2004 with Presidente Carlos Hernandez Blanco recognizing everyone at the closing ceremonies for their diligence to make a difference despite the obstacles.
Since the local city government administration is changing over in early 2005, it is yet to be determined if the same monitoring methodology will continue for the 2005 Season. All volunteers are anxiously awaiting the decisions of the new administration and are eager to see how many turtles will return to nest in Cozumel!
Turtle Season of 2005
 With a new City administration headed by Gustavo Ortega Joaquin taking over in March, the 2005 Turtle Salvation Program season was officially inaugurated on May 18, 2005. Committee meetings had been held for several weeks prior to the inauguration by the 7 participating Volunteer Brigades in order to agree on governing regulations, monitoring methods and documentation procedures for the season. In addition, this season marked the first year that biologists from outside Cozumel were hired to work the Turtle Salvation Program. While the three newly arrived biologists settled into their quarters near the sanctuary, the Volunteer Brigades selected their respective nights to work during the week, the sanctuary area for endangered nests was prepared and the military along with police were once again in charge of security to prevent visitors on the east side after dark.
Essentially the same monitoring methodology used in the 2004 season was again adopted for 2005 since no meaningful season results were captured in 2004 due to weather related damage to nesting beaches caused by IVAN. Basically the volunteers and biologists work together to accurately mark the turtle nest locations with GPS without excavating the eggs. The only nests excavated and relocated to the sanctuary area are those determined to be “in danger” of poaching or natural elements. After the appropriate incubation period, volunteers and biologists will then to return to the nest site, excavate and determine how many of that nest’s eggs actually hatched. The one downside to this methodology is that while it can be determined how many eggs actually hatched, it cannot be proven these hatchlings actually made it to the ocean. Some could have been taken by natural predators and not made it to the sea at all. That being said, the governing Committee for the Turtle Salvation Program still deemed this to be the best alternative given the limited resources available.
 The turtle nesting season began strong with 3 biologists in conjunction with the 7 different Brigade’s 100+ volunteers who worked throughout the season to register nest locations, gather details (tag number, size of shell, etc.) on the adult females coming ashore to nest and to count open egg shells to determine hatch rates. As it turned out, the 2005 Turtle Season was a record year with a total of 1,987 nests registered on Cozumel beaches. The loggerheads made 115 of the registered nests while green turtles dug an incredible 1,872 nests on Cozumel beaches.
Once again, the season was going very well with all Volunteer Brigades reporting a high level of turtles coming in to lay nests each night. Unfortunately, much of the work done by the volunteers (and the turtles) was undone this season by Mother Nature as Cozumel was hit not once but twice by Category 4 hurricanes. Prior to the hurricanes the Volunteer Brigades managed to monitor 522 nests for hatch rates. The hatch rates varied by beach but overall Cozumel experienced an 87% hatch rate on PRE-hurricane nests.
On July 17th, at the very peak of the green turtle nesting season, hurricane EMILY swept over the island in less than 15 hours but dealt a severe blow to the Turtle Salvation efforts. Every beach on the east side of the island where the turtles nest lost vast quantities of sand to the sea and with that went turtle nests as well. All told, 40 nests were swept out of the sanctuary area and over 700 nests registered on the beaches were lost to EMILY.
 To the credit of the Volunteer Brigades, only 5 or 6 nights of monitoring were lost after EMILY even though the east side road was barely passable. The City along with military crews closed the roads to the public but made safe passages through the debris so the Volunteer Brigades could continue their work with the turtles. In addition, on October 14th a ceremonial “releasing of turtles” was hosted by Presidente Gustavo Ortega Joaquin. City buses and donated private transport buses took over 600 children and families to the sanctuary at San Martin beach for the release at sundown. Presidente Gustavo commented on the dedication of the Volunteer Brigades in the wake of EMILY and encouraged all Cozumelenos to conserve and preserve Cozumel’s natural resources including the turtles. With these words of hope and encouragement, the biologists assisted children in releasing hundreds of baby turtles to the sea.
What we could not know at that beautiful moment in the moonlight was that Mother Mature was not yet finished with Cozumel.
 On October 20th, as the nests laid just after EMILY had begun to hatch out, another Category 4 hurricane, WILMA, hit the island and lingered for more than 2 days. Between the sanctuary and other beaches, there were an additional 184 registered nests lost to the effects of WILMA. After WILMA, over 90 baby turtle hatchlings were rescued from all over the island in varying conditions of health. Those nests that managed to survive the hurricanes suffered a significant reduction in hatch rates depending on which beach they were located and how hard a hit that particular beach incurred. Historically, hatch rates for Cozumel  have been in the 85 – 88% range. Post hurricanes, the observed hatch rates dropped to a devastating 18% - 60% depending on the beach.
Given the state of things post-WILMA the Turtle Salvation Program terminated 2 weeks earlier than normal with activities suspended October 30th. Even with these devastating blows brought on by Mother Nature, the 2005 Turtle Salvation Season did achieve some great milestones. The record number of nests registered coupled with the increased awareness for conservation brought about by the open “turtle release” ceremony held by the City are but two of the admirable accomplishments for the 2005 Turtle Salvation Season.
All of the Volunteer Brigades were amazed each week as the number of registered nests continued to climb beyond any numbers previously recorded in a season. This is a very positive and hopeful sign that all of the efforts of these past 15+ years by countless unnamed volunteers working in the wee hours of the night on Cozumel’s desolate beaches has not been in vein.
 Turtle Season of 2006
The governing Committee for the Turtle Salvation Program began meeting in February 2006 to discuss the results of the 2005 Season and begin preparing for the 2006 Season. The Volunteer Brigades were formed and actual turtle activity monitoring officially began May 15, 2006 with an inauguration ceremony given by Presidente Gustavo Ortega Joaquin. Further updates will be posted as the season progresses.
After 6 months of effort, late nights, sand, rain and clouds of mosquitoes, the 2006 Season has come to a close this past week for the 100 volunteer brigadistas of Cozumel's Marine Turtle Salvation Program.
The 2006 Season was filled with many successes for the Program. Early in the season, all brigades were asked to participate in the modification of the logo for the Program which now appears on all documents and public display items. Then later in the Season the Committee Chairman was invited to national and regional conservation conferences to present an analysis of Cozumel's 2005 Season statistics. The data from the 2005 Season has become important throughout the conservation community because Cozumel is the only known location to have 2 category 5 hurricanes within a 90 day period during a turtle nesting season where data was collected in a systematic manner. The data collected last year by the brigades following the storms shows the impact on marine life that such natural disasters can have.
 For the first time in the history of the program, guided visits to the turtle camp area were provided to different sectors of the Cozumel community in order to increase awareness and promote conservation. Almost 1200 local persons visited the camp area to observe the process of nesting and liberating the baby turtles.
During the 2006 Season, a total 1,618 nests were registered by the volunteer brigades and then over 800 of these were actually visited again and checked/cleaned after the incubation period to determine hatch rates for the season. There were 115 loggerhead nests (Caretta caretta) and 1503 green (Chelonia mydas) turtle nests registered.  Based on the statistical survey done, each nest had an average of 115 eggs and there were 87 hatches per 100 eggs deposited (87%). Based on this, by the end of the season there will have been about 186,000 turtle eggs deposited on the east coast beaches. And then when all nests have hatched, approximately 161,880 baby turtles will have been born and liberated from the shores of Cozumel. In comparison, last year saw 113,000 baby turtles born and liberated from the shores.
 As the 2006 Season closed, the brigades gathered toether to pass out t-shirts and hold a public turtle release event for some of Cozumel's children. Stories and pictures were shared as everyone realized all of the new things learned this season and all of the new friends made as well.
A big thanks to all of the 100+ volunteer brigadistas who worked tirelessly all night long, each night of the week during the past 6 months of nesting season to help protect and promote Cozumel's marine turtle population. None of the successes achieved this season would be possible without the volunteer brigades: Grupo IslaMar, Club Shalom, Park Natcional Arrecifes of Cozumel, Foundation of Parks and Museums of Cozumel, Department of Ecology and Ayuntamiento of Cozumel. All of the brigades worked together and joined forces for the 2006 Season to take advantage of over 20 years of conservation efforts lead by the City.
| Questions or more information? |
If you have any questions about the Turtle Program, would like to get involved or contribute to the volunteer program please visit the American Community Services office at 602-B [Upstairs] Raphael Melgar - Next to the Naval Base.
The best sight ever - "the baby turtle making its way back to the sea" ! |
Green turtle leaving her nest.
Mother turtle's tracks back to the ocean.
