The many coastal property owners that live along the coast in Belize are key to understanding how climate change is impacting nesting sea turtles.  

Coastal property owners notice change in the shoreline due to erosion, and remember years when turtles nested a lot vs years when turtle did not nest.  This is crucial information that we need to determine if climate change is impacting sea turtles in Belize.

Our Nesting Beach Observation Program encourages interested business and individuals along the coast to Adopt A Beach and regularly submit reports on their beach.

Nesting Beach Observations Kits, which include a set of 4 posters, stickers and the 2012 Nesting Beach Observation Calendar, are distributed to volunteers so they can easily record their observations and submit them each month.

Data recorded by those coastal resorts and property owner volunteers participating in the Turtle Watch Program’s Nesting Beach Surveys will include the following:

• Species ID
• Date tracks observed
• Date hatchlings observed
• GPS point of potential nest


Coastal residents and property owners will work closely with the Belize Fisheries Department and will notify them when the nest hatches so biologists can check the nest for hatching success.