Intensive beach management as an improved sea turtle conservation strategy in Mexico

Published source details García A., Ceballos G. & Adaya R. (2003) Intensive beach management as an improved sea turtle conservation strategy in Mexico. Biological Conservation, 111, 253-261.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Patrol or monitor nesting beaches Action Link
	Relocate nests/eggs to a hatchery: Sea turtles Action Link

Patrol or monitor nesting beaches

A before-and-after study in 1988–1997 on a beach in Playa Cuixmala, Mexico (García et al. 2003) found that after limiting human access to the beach and introducing patrols, along with moving nests to an on-beach hatchery, numbers of olive ridley Lepidochelys olivacea nests poached were lower. Results were not statistically tested. After limiting human access to the beach and introducing regular nightly beach patrols during the nesting season, two of 2,335 olive ridley turtle nests were poached in five years, compared to >90% of 59 nests poached in the two years prior to protections being introduced. A 3 km long beach was controlled by blocking human access and conducting night patrols at 3-hour intervals during the nesting season (July–March) in 1990–1997. At the same time, a proportion of nests were collected and transported to beach hatchery. Prior to this, nesting activity and poaching was monitored on the beach in 1988–1989.

(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, Katie Sainsbury)
Relocate nests/eggs to a hatchery: Sea turtles

A replicated study in 1988–1997 on a sandy beach in Jalisco, Mexico (Garcıía et al. 2003) found that relocating olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea nests to an on-beach hatchery resulted in fewer nests being lost to erosion or predation, and similar hatching success compared to nests left in situ. None of 65 relocated nests were lost to erosion or predation, whereas only 36 of 65 (56%) nests left in situ survived. Hatching success was similar in relocated (59%) and in situ nests (66%). In August 1990, July 1991 and October 1994, a 3 km stretch of beach was patrolled for nesting turtles. Half of the nests discovered were relocated to the hatchery and half were left in situ (total of 18, 32 and 80 nests/year). The hatchery (10 x 35 m) was enclosed with a fence made of wire mesh and mosquito mesh (2.5 m high, 0.5 m deep). Hatchlings were counted and released on the beach, and nests were excavated to assess hatching success.

(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, William Morgan)