It’s Turtle time here in Cabo. And all over Baja
California Sur. Late August until early December is when the turtles come home
to lay their eggs on the same beaches where they were born.
The Sea of Cortez is home to five species of sea turtles -
Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Leatherback, Green Turtle and Olive Ridley. All of them
are endangered. Fortunately, a whole bunch of organisations have formed to help
and protect the sea turtles.
A few weeks ago we reported on the turtle conservation
projects in Cabo (ASUPMATOMA) and Loreto National Park where you can join in with
guarding turtle nests on the beach and releasing the baby hatchings back into
the sea.
We also covered the “first arrivada” at
the Turtle Sanctuary on Escobilla Beach in Oaxaca. Where 30 000 Olive Ridley
Turtles arrived to lay their eggs.
Well guess what - they have just done the same thing
again. Except this time it is called the “second arrivada”. And so far, an
estimated 60 000 eggs have already been laid. And this amazing phenomenon is
expected to continue for the next 3-5 days…
Fantastic news. But these are also troubled times for
turtles in Baja California Sur. Specifically in the Gulf of Ulloa, around
Comundu and Loreto, where dead turtles continue to appear despite a 4-month ban
on fishing. (The turtles are often an unfortunate bycatch in the nets and
longlines of local fisherman as their feeding grounds clash with coastal
fishing regions.)
Fishermen believe that these continued deaths are proof
that fishing is not the main reason
for the mortality of the turtles. But some organisations take the contrary view.
Arguing that the relatively few deaths now are, in fact, proof that the hundreds
of previous deaths were caused primarily by the fishing nets….
The debate continues to cause local controversy. And economic
difficulties for the fishermen despite government compensation during the ban.
Profepa will continue to monitor the number of
deaths until the ban is lifted at the end of September. After this one working
group will be formed - including the environmental
and government sector, researchers, academics and local fishermen - to collect
all information for analysis.