June 16th Designated as World Sea Turtle Day
Turtle conservation organizations came together to create World Sea Turtle Day in 2000 to raise awareness and promote protection. The June 16 date was chosen to honor the birthday of Dr. Archie Carr, a renowned sea turtle conservationist. Dr. Carr also founded the Sea Turtle Conservancy in Gainesville, Florida.
In Panama, a country rich in diverse ecosystems and habitats, sea turtles are a national treasure. From mid-July through January, you can see sea turtles nesting on protected Panamanian shores. It happens at night during low tide on calm beaches. Typically they return to the same beaches where they were born for nesting season. Five of the seven species worldwide live in Panaman with it’s unique location of the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, although most breeding sites are on the Pacific beaches. The five species that call their home Panama are endangered. These include the Loggerhead turtle, critically endangered Hawksbills, Green, Olive Ridley, and Leatherback.
Many local communities and groups lead the conservation efforts to protect these species. Some of the groups include Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC): Operating primarily in Bocas del Toro, Fundación Agua y Tierra: Based in Mata Oscura (Mariato, Veraguas), Tortugas Pedasí: Operating in the Pedasí and Tonosí regions (Los Santos), Fundación Tortuguías: Based in Punta Chame, AAMVECONA: Working along San San Beach in Bocas del Toro, ACOPLAMA: The Malena Beach Conservation Association operates on Malena Beach in Veraguas.
If you enjoy the beaches in Chiriqui at Las Lajas or La Barqueta, you may be lucky enough to witness and help in the release of hatchlings.
Sea turtles are keystone species essential for maintaining healthy, productive marine and coastal ecosystems. Their feeding habits and behaviors directly benefit the environment in several vital ways, such as regulating jellyfish populations, protecting coral reefs, and maintaining sea grass beds.
How can we help the sea turtles? Reduce your plastic usage (leatherback turtles sometimes mistake floating plastic as jellyfish which is the main part of their diet) volunteer for beach cleanups as litter will prevent hatchlings from reaching the ocean. Do not support seafood choices that include turtle. Donate your time or money to reputable conservation organizations and always avoid disturbing nesting sites and hatchlings.
