Adopt A Beach

Launched in June 2011 with our 2011 Belize Sea Turtle Census, the Adopt A Beach Program relies on the support of coastal property owners and protected areas managers to adopt beaches and monitor them for signs of sea turtle activity and keeping the beach turtle friendly. July through September is peak nesting season and so we need your help to monitor the 100s of miles of beach that we have in Belize! Even if you only adopt only a mile or less of beach this will add to our database so please sign up now!

Why Adopt A Beach?

The Adopt a Beach program is an integral part of the 2011 Belize Sea Turtle Census to determine what species of turtles are nesting in Belize, how many are nesting and where they are nesting.

Belize has 100s of miles of sandy beaches that sea turtles nest on each year and we need YOUR help to monitor them regularly for sea turtle activity. The participation of Belizeans and tourists alike is needed to monitor beaches throughout the year.

Turtles return to the beaches of their births, to lay their own eggs, and if the beaches are receding or inaccessible to turtles, their populations will decline.

Sea turtles use beach front and littoral forest to lay their eggs and any tracks or nests need to be reported so that we can determine how many turtles are nesting in Belize, what species are nesting and when and where they are nesting.

We are encouraging all hotels, resorts and coastal property owners to "Adopt a Beach" and help monitoring levels of sea turtle nesting activity in Belize.

One of the many sandy beaches in Belize. This one is the beach at Gales Point which is Belize's most important nesting beach supporting nesting hawksbill, loggerhead and green sea turtles. Photo Linda Searle

Walking the beach each day to look for tracks, especially during peak nesting season, is something that hotel guests can assist with. Photo Linda Searle

Sample calendar page used to keep track of beach monitoring.

Sea turtle hatchlings are eager to reach the sea. Photo Suitcases & Sippy Cups

Monitoring your Beach

Monitoring beach patterns and sea turtle activity is essential for the conservation of beach topography and marine life populations. The effects of urban development, climate change, and poaching can be studied, tracked and managed.

It's very easy, basically someone needs to walk the Adopted Beach every morning to look for turtle tracks and record your observations on the Nesting Beach Calendar. At the end of each month you'll scan the monthly page and send it to us to include in our database.

When turtle tracks or nests are sighted we'll notify the nearest member of the Belize Sea Turtle Conservation Network so they can send a trained biologist to inspect the tracks and nest in order to determine what type of turtle nested on your beach.

About 60 days later you can alert your guests to a most spectacular reward, the hatching of about 100+ baby sea turtles!

Adopt Your Beach Today!

ECOMAR is encouraging everyone with access to beaches to Adopt a Beach and help "Protect Sea Turtles Today for Tomorrow! If you're ready to sign up please complete the short form and someone will be in contact with you to get you set up and monitoring your beach!

Contact Person *

Resort/Hotel/Private Property Name *

Email *

Telephone Number *

Cell Number *

Which beach would you like to adopt? Please list the nearest landmark. *

Please describe the current level of sea turtle activity on your beach: *

I don't know if sea turtles nest on our beach. Sea turtles have nested on our beach in the past, but I'm not sure of the frequency. Sea turtles nest on our beach regularly each summer.

If you frequent the reef outside your hotel or resort, would you also like to participate in our in-water turtle monitoring? *

Yes No

Hol Chan Biologist Kirah Forman using the Abney Level to measure the beach profile at Gales Point. Photo Linda Searle

Nesting Beach Characterization

Help is also needed in the monitoring of changes in beach patterns throughout the seasons and over the years.

If you would like to characterize your nesting beach you can work with the scientists from your nearest NGO and you can work with them and learn how to characterize the beach so that changes over time and impacts from climate change can be monitored. Nesting beach characterization kits will also be available to purchase if you would like to monitor the beach yourself on a regular basis.

Contact Details