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Sea Turtles Program
What is CEA:
Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA) was founded in 1993, to “monitor the impact of development on the regional ecosystems and culture, to report findings and their significance to the public through education, and influence public policy”.
CEA has, since its foundation, worked within the Akumal community on the following issues:
-Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Protection Program;
-Sea Turtle Protection, Conservation and Research Program;
-Water Quality Program;
-Environmental Sustainability Program;
-Environmental Education and Communication Program.
In addition to its own independent research, CEA hosts visiting researchers and experts in various fields from around the world.
Volunteers Program
CEA has a Volunteer Program for individuals who wish to donate their time and expertise to help this small ecological group meet its goals. Volunteers input data to computer, write, edit, create publications, do systems, as well as other tasks.
Turtle Program:
CEA’s Sea Turtle Protection, Conservation and Research Program was founded in 1994.
All sea turtle species are protected by law because they are threatened by extinction.
Of the 8 existing species of sea turtles, 4 nest in Quintana Roo.
There are 2 species that nest on the beaches at Akumal: the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta Caretta) and the Green Turtle (Chelonia Mydas). Year-round you can find them feeding in our bays and sometimes you can see the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys Imbricate) around the reef.
During the nesting season CEA turtle staff and volunteers, patrols the beaches of Akumal in search of nesting female turtles, turtle nests, and recent hatchlings. Their duties include protecting and tagging females, collecting scientific data, relocating eggs (in extremely cases) to more favorable locations on the beach, and releasing hatchlings to the sea. The data that the turtle team collects are then used to determine turtle hatching success, behavior, distribution, and abundance.
This year, Centro Ecológico Akumal started monitoring juvenile turtles at Akumal Bay every two months. This work it’s done during day, twice a week (some weeks more). The work consist in capture the turtles (snorkeling) and put them marks, measure, weight, take them samples of blood to look for sickness and do generis studies. This work provides us data on how tourism and pollution are having impact on turtles’ illnesses.
Raising awareness among tourist and residents on sea turtle biology and conservation issues is the most important thing on this job. Every night volunteers have to participate in our Turtle Talks to give information to the people who visit us.
Skills required:
The patrol work is hard. Digging and moving nest is particularly strenuous, and the work day begins at sunset, because that’s when the turtles nest and hatch. The turtles don’t run on a human calendar; they nest seven days a week. So, this is a job for a night person who can work hard for several days.
Monitoring turtles on the bay is hard too. Snorkel in the bay it’s not easy, we required people who are in good health, who are able to swim for long minute’s periods, and do not suffer “seasick”.
Protecting, monitoring and input on computer all turtles’ data is the main purpose of this program, but you will also be asked to help with other aspects of life at CEA, such as giving information and presentations about our work to tourists, as the Turtle Talk (please let us know if you have the interest and the ability to give it), taking local kids to release hatchlings, or helping organize educational events (among a variety of things). So we required volunteers that speak at least two languages.
Although it would be a plus for selection, no previous background in science or marine and turtle biology is required, but you must have a strong interest in wildlife and conservation. We always ask you to look for turtle information before coming; even you would receive training here. Notice: Surprisingly volunteers can have quizzes.
Participants are expected to be enthusiastic, adventurous, be able to work as part of a team, be respectful of the host country’s environment and cultures, and have a good sense of humor.
Location:
Akumal is situated on the eastern Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, some ninety kilometers south of Cancun, between the towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulúm.
Akumal means “Place of the Turtles” in Mayan.
Life at CEA:
During your stay at CEA you will be lodged in dorms with the other volunteers of the program, as well as various local fauna representatives, and will also have access to a fully furnished kitchen.
The turtle program have a computer where during days, you would be able to do all your data process.
You will be living in community for a long period of time, thus you are expected to have a proper attitude and be respectful of others and rules.
Usage of drugs or any illegal substance is strictly prohibited, and anyone caught using them will immediately be asked to leave CEA without condition.
Other general information:
-Please note that we do not accept volunteers under the age of 21
-According to the number of applicants for the program, a strict selection of the applications will be made.
-The minimum length of stay is 2 months.
-The fee for the program is 200 USD (foreigners) 100 USD (Mexicans) for your whole stay and your payment is due one month before the start of the program.
-You must have a valid passport and visa or FM3 for the length of your stay. It is your responsibility to have up-to-date migratory documents.
-It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the recommended vaccinations and take any prescribed or advised medication. Please note that CEA can not give medical advice.
-You should have valid insurance for medical services.
-The limit application date is at least 1 month before the dates you want start the program.
All volunteers accepted into the program will need to have their FM3.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information or an application form.
Volunteers and Communication Program
info@ceakumal.org
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