CONSERVATION, RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION, DESTINATIONS. ECOTOURISM, responsible tourism

Sea turtles, ambassadors of our oceans.

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Reaching the sea, one of the tests 
most difficult of his life was overcome. 

 Many others await you

Sea turtles have been playing a vital role in ocean health for millions of years. 

According to OCEANA, the largest organization dedicated exclusively to ocean conservation, the functions they perform to fulfill their vital role include: (Full report, in English)

  1. They keep marine plant beds in good condition by increasing the productivity and nutrient content of their leaves when they feed.
  2. They maintain the health of coral reefs by feeding on sponges.
  3. They facilitate nutrient cycling by providing a concentrated source of protein nutrients when nesting.
  4. They balance marine food chains by keeping jellyfish populations under control, which would prevent other rarer species from establishing themselves in coral reefs.
  5. They are a source of food for other fish, as they carry barnacles, algae and other similar organisms.
  6. They increase the rate of nutrient recycling on the seabed by breaking open shells in search of food.

However, despite the importance they represent in the health of living oceans and therefore in life in general that affects us all, sea turtles have been practically eliminated from many areas of the world. 

Commercial fishing, loss of nesting habitat and climate change are some of the human-caused threats that have pushed sea turtles toward extinction. As sea turtle populations decline, so does their ability to perform vital functions in ocean ecosystems. 


In Ecuador the situation is not very different. Of the 7 species that exist in the world, reports indicate the constant presence of 4 species, although there is evidence that this number could rise to 6. Of these, at least 3 nest on our beaches.


But until recently, at least in continental Ecuador, the only nesting studies that existed were those carried out in Machalilla National Park, since it was assumed that this was the southernmost beach where they nested. This myth has been disproved by the multiple observations of nests on other beaches to the south, including Montañita-Manglaralto, Olón, Ayangue, among others. These important investigations have been carried out by the Valdivia Aquarium, which has been joined in recent months, and due to the importance of its work, by other organizations such as Equilibrio Azul and recently the Galápagos National Park, with the idea of strengthening them. The Valdivia Aquarium also constantly carries out reintroductions of the species that have been born.


It is URGENT that concrete actions be taken to help protect and restore sea turtle populations, including:

  1. Reduce sea turtle interactions and mortality in commercial fisheries. To achieve this, some of the following can be followed: Proposed international guidelines for reducing incidental catch of sea turtles (FAO, Bangkok 2004)
  2. Protect their key habitat areas on land and in the water. It is urgent to designate as Sea Turtle Reproduction Sanctuaries those places or beach areas where it has been determined that the nesting stage occurs. Dramatic cases such as those of Ayangue or Olón where in the middle of the nesting process and the return of the turtles to the sea, vehicles were seen parked or circulating, when there is a specific prohibition on this matter. The authorities did not respond in these cases in favor of this species in danger of extinction.
  3. Legislation that establishes a system to protect and restore sea turtle populations. And that its compliance is also mandatory. In Ecuador, there is already a ban on capture, processing and internal and external commercialization and all species existing in Ecuadorian waters are considered protected by the State. Likewise, there is a Regulations for the Use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs). 

We urge the Ecuadorian government to finalize, socialize and put into practice the:

– National Strategy for the Conservation of Sea Turtles, and the
– Respective Official Record that has been announced for several months on the Ministry of the Environment's website as documents in preparation.

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