Ecuador’s uniquely diverse coastline makes it a favorable nesting area for sea turtles, and as a result, there are 4 different species that call it home:  Green Turtles, Leatherbacks, Hawksbills, and Olive-Ridley turtles. Despite their beauty and ecological importance, these gentle creatures are critically endangered; their nesting sites are being destroyed and they are being out-competed by fishing.

Olive-Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)

ENDANGERED

Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

ENDANGERED

Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)

ENDANGERED

All of these turtle species are protected under Ecuadorian law.  Very little is known of the state of their populations, and there is a high amount of by-catch by both commercial and artisan fisheries.  Additionally, our surveys of key beaches indicate that there is an abnormally high mortality rate.

To aid in their conservation, our we have created PROJECT TURTLE, which consists mainly of the following activities:

NESTING BEACHES MONITORING

Sea turtles spend most of their lives in the ocean, but nest on beaches.  At certain times of the year, when the tides and seasons align, the females abandon the security of the ocean and make their way up the beaches to lay their eggs.  Sea turtles are very vulnerable on land, and even after a nest is successfully laid, it is still very susceptible to harm by humans.   Very little research has been done on Ecuador’s coasts regarding the quantity and frequency of sea turtle nests.  What information we do have indicates that the Machalilla National Park (Parque Nacional Machalilla) is a prime nesting location; it is quite possibly the most important area on the entire coast of Ecuador. 

Throughout the entire nesting season, Equilibrio Azul personnel and volunteers patrol the coasts of the park to learn the exact dates of the nesting season, track numbers and locations of individual nests, count eggs, and determine hatching times.  With these patrols, we hope to establish a clear idea of the population dynamics and reproductive success of the turtles. 

¡Only 1 out of every 1000 sea turtle hatchlings survives to adulthood!

ON-BOARD MONITORING In the Machalilla National Park, sea turtles are frequently observed swimming freely in the coral reefs.  However, little is known about these populations.  To obtain a complete picture of the sea turtle population, it is also necessary to obtain data from the turtles in the ocean.  To do this, Environmental Ministry of Ecuador has allowed us to capture turtles at sea, take measurements, mark them, and release them back into the ocean.  This information is vital to understanding their habitats and distribution, and recapture of marked individuals is especially helpful, as it helps us better understand the growth and development of the turtles.

Another objective of this activity is to determine whether the turtles are actually living in the reefs around the island, or simply passing through.

CRITICAL NESTING AND FEEDING GROUNDS EVALUATION

Throughout 2008, we explored the beaches of Ecuador searching for sea turtle tracks and questioning locals regarding the presence of nests. Using this information, we hope to create a listing of the most important nesting sites and largest threats to the sea turtles of Ecuador. 

So far, the main threats that we have identified in these areas are:
           

• Coastal Development (homes, hotels, kiosks, etc)
• Vehicles on the beach
• Fires and lights
• Trash

IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT TURTLES NESTING IN ECUADORIAN BEACHES, PLEASE Contact us.

T.E.D (Turtles Excluder Devices)

A Turtle Exclusion Device is an apparatus placed in dredging nets that notably reduced the accidental capture of turtles. 

The Ecuadorian government signed an agreement requiring the usage of TEDs by dredging boats (such as those that fish for prawns), however, this regulation is not always enforced, and we want to figure out how to help make these devices more accessible and widely-used.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

In 2008, we coordinated with other organizations to create a pilot educational program of centered on the protection of these animals in Puerto Lopez.  Without the direct participation of the local fisher communities it will be difficult to improve the outlook of these species in the long term.  If you want to help us with these goals, please join us!

Useful documents

• Sea turtle identification chart.