Nicaragua: Sea Turtle Conservation Program

Critical nesting and feeding habitat for endangered sea turtles occurs in the offshore waters and on the cays and mainland of Caribbean Nicaragua.  Many populations of green, hawksbill, loggerhead, and leatherback sea turtles from throughout the Caribbean depend on this habitat during their life cycle.  Thus, the success of sea turtle conservation efforts in the United States and many Caribbean nations depends in large part on the actions of natural resource users and managers in Nicaragua.

The Human Aspect
Thousands of indigenous and ethnic people living on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua depend on green turtles for income and as a source of protein.  A minimum of 11,000 green turtles per year are captured and consumed locally.  This economically important artisanal fishery spans the entire coast of Nicaragua.  Many Nicaraguans are unaware of the impact that their consumption has on sea turtle populations.

Threats
Currently in Nicaragua the uncontrolled harvest of both sea turtles, from the water and beaches, and their eggs poses a serious threat to the long-term survival of these endangered species.  Green turtles now face commercial extinction and a potentially viable local fishery for the region is threatened.  In addition, uncontrolled development on the nesting beaches of the Pearl Cays threatens the recovery of Nicaragua’s globally important hawksbill nesting population.

WCS Activities
WCS uses an integrated natural and social science approach to promote sea turtle conservation in Nicaragua.  This includes scientific research such as:

• conducting population assessments,
• studying population demography and nesting ecology,
• conducting genetic stock assessments,
• and tracking movements and migration patterns.

WCS provides educational and training opportunities at both the local and national levels.  WCS engages the support of local communities by educating people about sea turtles and their impact on these endangered populations, by working directly with local communities on solutions to current threats to sea turtles in Nicaragua, by hiring local staff and training them, and by providing this staff with results from WCS research.  WCS is also facilitating the development of a management plan for the long-term conservation of sea turtles in Nicaragua and the development of alternative sources of income for local turtle fishers.

Important Next Steps

• Complete a management plan for sea turtle conservation in collaboration with local turtle fishing communities and government authorities.
• Expand research activities to provide additional information to effectively conserve sea turtles in the region.
• Assist government authorities protecting areas critical for sea turtle conservation and recovery in the region.
• Educate Nicaraguans, not only about sea turtle conservation, but conservation of natural resources in general by continuing to build a core staff of local scientists, conservation practitioners, and managers.
• Work with local turtle fishers on developing alternative sources of income to harvesting endangered sea turtles.