Turtle season begins in Akumal, Mexico

From Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA):

2009 Nesting Season has begun in Akumal. We all hope this will be a very successful nesting season and invite you to join CEA in managing the beaches so each nesting mother can come ashore and find a great place to dig a hole and leave her eggs, and then safely make it back to sea. Stay posted throughout the season to see updated numbers on nests and hatchlings in Akumal.

CEA offers Turtle Talks and Turtle Walks, Monday - Friday throughout Turtle Season. Stop by the CEA Center for more information.

Also, May 23rd is World Turtle Day, celebrating these endangered species. Help us celebrate by following these simple guidelines when you are on the coast:
Change lights facing the beach areas to amber or red colored bulbs; or even better, change the direction of the lighting so lights shine from the edge of your property toward the building, not toward the beach. Bright lights disorient the turtles.

If you are going to be on the beach at night and need some light, use amber or red light on your flashlight, illuminating the path only.

Do not leave objects (beach chairs, floats, kayaks, etc) on the beach, as they may obstruct the turtles’ path as she crawls up the beach to find a place to nest.

Do not make excessive noise at night from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., during the nesting season (May to October). The noise frightens the turtles.

If you see a turtle arriving, making a nest or laying her eggs, do not approach her, nor shine a light towards her, and please, no flash photos. Please notify Centro Ecológico Akumal staff (CEA) of any sightings.

If you see hatchlings coming out of the sand, stay nearby and make sure they find their own way to the sea. Do not pick them up or play with them.

When you visit the beaches, please pick up any garbage even if it’s not yours. Help us to keep the beaches clean.

Always dispose of plastic waste properly; so much plastic is floating around at sea and the turtles mistake it for food, filling their bellies with toxic plastics and eventually dying.