It's the beginning of a new nesting season, and we are feeling joy and responsibility when it comes to the protection of this charismatic species.
Last year we witnessed an increase in the number of nests for Akumal beaches with a total of 603 nests of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and 200 loggerhead nests (Caretta caretta). This was a record in Akumal. We released a total of 58,912 hatchlings of both species.

We are happy for the increased number of nesting females arriving to our beaches, but that does not mean that the species are out of danger. Sea turtle populations are reduced so we must continue our efforts in protecting and implementing alternatives to improve management in sea turtle conservation.
Protecting sea turtles is a comprehensive duty among all actors in Akumal, so we kindly ask you to respect the following recommendations:

• Change lights facing the beach areas to amber or red-colored bulbs; change their direction so that they light from the edge of your property to the building, not out to the beach. The lights disorient the turtles.
• Do not leave objects (beach chairs, floats, kayaks, etc.) on the beach, as they may obstruct the female turtle's path as she searches for a place to lay eggs.
• Do not make excessive noise at night from 21:00 to 05:00 hrs. during nesting season (May - October).
• If you find a turtle on the beach, stay quiet, do not take pictures with flash, and inform Centro Ecológico Akumal as soon as you can. Phone. 984 875-9095 or send an email to tortugas1@ceakumal.org.
• Do not remove nest markers.

We appreciate your support. Together we can pull sea turtle species off the red list of endangered species.

Centro Ecológico Akumal is searching for volunteers interested in participating in our Reef Monitoring, Bay Patrol and Sea Turtle Programs.

We need people over 21 years old, who speak at least two languages.

If you are committed to helping improve marine management and species protection, and are responsible and enjoy working as part of a team, please contact us at info@ceakumal.org or directly to the programs: Bay Patrol – Apply any time: pobak1@ceakumal.org; Reef Monitoring – Requires a 3-month commitment, to begin in June: arrecife@ceakumal.org; Sea Turtle Program – Requires a 2-month commitment, starting in May, but you can arrive any time during the summer, if you are able to stay for at least 2 months: tortugas1@ceakumal.org.

Sofía Sarre and Mariano Suárez, our Sea Turtle Program staff, participated in the 33rd Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation in Baltimore last month.

They were able to learn about research projects from around the world, share information about our work in Akumal, and discover ways to improve and fund our local sea turtle protection efforts.

Centro Ecológico Akumal's 2013 Annual Silent Auction and Gala Dinner were a great success! With the wonderful help of our friends and CEA members, David and Nancy Poor, and all of the great items donated to our cause, we had one of our best Silent Auctions ever. With more than 70 items to bid on, the energetic voice of Natalie Novak Perez, and the delightful food prepared by Nancy, it couldn't have been better.

A week later, our Gala Dinner offered a buffet menu of a charming mix of Akumal's restaurants: Akumal Beach Resort, Akumal Direct, Club Akumal Caribe, Eco Bahía, Gran Bahía Príncipe, La Buena Vida, La Cueva del Pescador, La Lunita, Lol-Ha, Olga Rubi Banquetes, Que Onda, Sol, Turtle Bay Café & Bakery and Tequilaville.

As part of our celebration this year of our 20th anniversary as a conservation organization in Akumal, we wanted to celebrate Mexican culture and music. Our guests enjoyed the variety of dishes while listening to the great music of Gilberto Márquez and the spectacular Mexican Show from Bahía Príncipe. We loved it!

Thanks to everyone who made it happen and to all the people who participated.  This year we were able to raise 8,000 dollars for our conservation programs!  If you were not able to be here, please don't be sad; you can still support our programs by DONATING NOW!

Centro Ecológico Akumal is collecting recyclables in Akumal.

If you live in the Akumal area, please join our program.

If you are staying as a guest in Akumal, ask your hotel or condo if they participate in the recycling program.

Contact us at:
info@ceakumal.org or sofia.sarre4@gmail.com.

Centro Ecológico Akumal has started CEA Nature Talks. We are going to invite different people from various areas of interest to learn more about the wonderful world we have. We started this season with R. Glenn Northcutt from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. He gave us an amazing talk about sharks of the Caribbean. Sharks are peaceful animals that humans must respect; they are an important piece in our balance.