Marine Biologists in Costa Rica and El Salvador Lead the Fight to Save Hawksbill Turtles

Costa Rican marine biologist Ariana Oporta-McCarthy, president of the Costa Rican Alliance for the Conservation and Science of Sea Turtles (COASTS), is leading the fight to save hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) from extinction on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast.

In the last 200 years, the hawksbill turtle has fallen into critical danger of extinction due to the exploitation of its eggs and turtles for food and tortoiseshell. In addition, it faces current threats such as the loss of its nesting and feeding habitat due to accidental capture and pollution, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The Gandoca beach, vital for the nesting of these turtles, was being seriously affected by the illegal collection of eggs. Oporta-McCarthy and her team have managed to reduce egg poaching from 100% to almost 0%, removing more than four tons of plastics from the beach and releasing over 40,000 hatchlings. In addition, more than 500 mangrove trees have been planted to restore the habitat.

Research and Conservation Project

In 2020, Oporta-McCarthy reactivated a research project in the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, focused on hawksbill turtles. Despite initial challenges, the project, led by community members, has built scientific capacity among local youth. Actions include night patrols, scientific data collection, nest relocation, daytime censuses, placement of satellite transmitters, beach cleanups, and mangrove planting.

Recognitions and Achievements

Ariana Oporta-McCarthy was named a 2022 Fellow of the New England Aquarium's Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF). The funding helped provide environmental education in more than 20 local schools, where students participated in the release of turtle hatchlings.

Oporta-McCarthy grew up in Gandoca and, despite initial challenges, became the first in her village to graduate as a biologist in 2013. She emphasizes the importance of empowering local youth as agents of change and acting instead of waiting for outside heroes.

El Salvador

On the other side of Central America, Ani Henríquez, executive director of the Procosta Association in El Salvador, is also working for the conservation of hawksbill turtles in the eastern Pacific. After being considered extinct in 2007, there has been a significant increase in nest protection with the collaboration of local communities.

The work of Oporta-McCarthy and Henríquez highlights the importance of community collaboration and active commitment to preserve hawksbill turtles, contributing to the conservation of this threatened species and the balance of marine ecosystems.