Celebrate World Sea Turtle Day!

Jun 16, 2026

World Sea Turtle Day is celebrated every June 16th to raise awareness about the importance of sea turtles and the need to protect them and their habitats. Sea turtles play a vital role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems and have existed on Earth for millions of years. Today sea turtles face threats from plastic pollution, habitat loss, climate change, and accidental capture in fishing gear. Protecting oceans, beaches, and marine life is essential for their survival and for the health of our planet.
How Can You Help Sea Turtles??
Reef Conservation International’s sea turtle conservation program is a dedicated initiative aimed at protecting endangered sea turtles on our island in Belize. With a focus on conservation, the program seeks to preserve the fragile ecosystem that supports these sea turtles while raising awareness about their critical role in marine biodiversity.

How Can I Help?

Our volunteers are crucial to our mission!  Our volunteers help to conserve and protect critically endangered sea turtles through conservation efforts, nest monitoring, safe releases, and habitat protection. By safeguarding nesting sites and ensuring successful hatchling survival, you can contribute to the recovery of endangered sea turtle populations while fostering long-term sustainability.  Be the change you wish to see in the world!

Highlights

  • Rescue sea turtle hatchlings and ensure their safe release into the ocean
  • Identify and monitor sea turtle nests during the nesting season, ensuring protection from human interference, predators, and environmental hazards
  • Learn all about endangered sea turtles through our educational program and hands-on participation in nest monitoring and building
  • Collect data on nesting patterns, hatchling survival rates, and threats to sea turtles to inform conservation strategies
  • Scuba dive the Belize Barrier Reef or get your scuba certification with us on the island!

What Will I Do?

  • Nest Monitoring & Protection:  Identify and monitor sea turtle nests during the nesting season, ensuring protection from human interference, predators, and environmental hazards
  • Rescue Hatchlings:  Rescue sea turtle hatchlings and ensure their safe release into the ocean
  • Data Collection:  Collect data on nesting patterns, hatchling survival rates, and threats to sea turtles to inform conservation strategies and contribute to global conservation knowledge
  • Habitat Restoration:  Implement beach cleanup initiatives, vegetation control, and habitat enhancement projects to maintain safe and suitable nesting grounds for turtles
  • Education:  Learn all about endangered sea turtles through our educational program and hands-on participation in nest monitoring and building

Program Yearly Timeline and Availability

Our program follows the ebbs and flows of the sea turtle life cycle.  Sea turtle activities occur April through November in Belize.  Nesting and hatching seasons are well defined and only occur during certain time periods of the year.  Annually on our island on the Belize Barrier Reef we average 10 nesting sites with an average of 100-120 eggs per nest; resulting in 1200 sea turtles hatched and released from our island per year!!  We couldn’t do it without the help of our volunteers!!