What is it about sea turtles that captivates our attention and compels us to witness them up close? Maybe we hold images from grade-school science classes of baby sea turtles making their way to the sea, or perhaps we’re drawn in by the idyllic sandy beaches they visit.
Whatever the reason, witnessing a sea turtle nesting, hatching, or swimming is a bucket-list item for many travelers. In many cases, watching a sea turtle while nesting is the most accessible way to observe these creatures, but it’s also when they’re the most vulnerable.
Given that sea turtles are threatened with extinction, it’s important that we do what we can to protect sea turtles while nesting and hatching. Conservation programs often recruit volunteers to monitor beaches overnight to protect nesting turtles, ensure the safety of their eggs, and help hatchlings find the sea.
So how can we watch nesting and hatching sea turtles without harming them? Like all things in nature, we must find a balance. It is possible to enjoy and, in some cases, interact with these creatures while being respectful and mindful of them and their homes. In fact, when done intentionally, sea turtle tourism can even benefit sea turtles. Here are some simple guidelines you can follow to enjoy the experience of witnessing sea turtles in the wild in an ethical and sustainable way.
Take a conservation tour
With on-site experts to guide you, sea turtle tours run by reputable nonprofit organizations can ensure a memorable experience that doesn’t harm these animals or their homes. Participating in such programs also supports the tour leader’s important conservation work, such as Oceanic Society’s sea turtle conservation program.
For example, Oceanic Society’s sea turtle volunteer trip in Trinidad will put you in the midst of the world’s densest population of nesting leatherbacks, where an estimated 20,000 nests are laid annually. You will train with the community-based nonprofit Nature Seekers, whom your visit supports, to patrol the beach nightly, and will get hands-on experience helping measure, tag, and collect data on nesting turtles.
Sea turtle conservation tours run by reputable nonprofit organizations can ensure a memorable experience that doesn’t harm these animals or their homes. Oceanic Society volunteers in Trinidad work under the supervision of the local nonprofit Nature Seekers. © Ashleigh Bandimere
Oceanic Society’s Costa Rica’s Wild Pacific tour also offers an opportunity to witness a mass nesting event, called an “arribada,” of olive ridley sea turtles, following sea turtle tourism best practices under the guidance of local authorities.
Go with local experts
When visiting a place and looking to see wild sea turtles, the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) encourages seeking out trained local experts who are knowledgeable about where to go – and avoid – and how to responsibly view sea turtles without disturbing them. Not all sea turtle tourism experiences follow best practices to assure the safety of the animals, so it is important to seek out programs that collaborate with qualified sea turtle experts.
Be sure to provide tips and compensation to your guides! Your money will promote a sea turtle and ocean-friendly economy.
Conservation tourism can benefit the animals by supporting economies that value sea turtles and by providing funding to help protect these wonderful creatures. © Brian J. Hutchinson
Be a responsible tourist
If you’re visiting a place known for sea turtles, be sure to follow these turtle-friendly practices:
- Turn out unnecessary lights and make minimal use of flashlights during sea turtle nesting season. Sea turtles are highly sensitive to white light (including the flashlight on your mobile phone), which can disorient them and impact their willingness to nest. Or, invest in a quality red-light headlamp that is much less likely to disturb or disorient sea turtles.
- Control your pets on beaches and in areas where turtle nests could be. Keep your pet on a leash at all times.
- Avoid driving on the beach, even if it’s permitted. Not only can vehicles crush turtle eggs, but tire tracks left in the sand can trap hatchlings as they make their way to the sea.
- Keep your distance. Turtles can be sensitive to movement and noise, and approaching them can cause them to abandon their nests. If you see a sea turtle, remain quiet and enjoy the opportunity to witness from afar, without flash photography.
There are many ways to participate responsibly and behold the beauty of sea turtles. Indeed, conservation tourism can benefit the animals by supporting economies that value sea turtles and providing funding to help protect these wonderful creatures.
