Environmental Protectors Return 6,146 Baby Turtles to Sea in South Al Sharqiyah

Oman’s Environmental Protectors Return More Than 6,000 Baby Turtles to Sea

Sur:  Volunteer teams, supervisors and monitors participating in the “Environmental Protectors” programme returned 6,146 baby turtles to the sea during August and assisted 264 adult sea turtles that were stranded or returned them safely to the sea.

The efforts contributed to improving the turtles’ chances of survival and reaching their natural marine environment.

Implemented by the Environment Department in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, the programme involved 149 volunteers across five volunteer teams. It aimed to protect sea turtles and raise environmental awareness among beach visitors, particularly during the egg-hatching season when hatchlings emerge from nests and make their way towards the sea.

Nizar bin Salem Al Fannah Al Araimi, Director of the Environment Department in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, said the programme’s August activities coincided with an important stage of the sea turtle season, when beaches witness an increase in hatchlings emerging from nests and heading towards the sea.

He added that the combined efforts of volunteer teams, supervisors, monitors and civil society provided necessary protection for turtles during their early stages of life and reflected the level of environmental responsibility within society.

Al Araimi stressed that protecting sea turtles is a shared responsibility requiring coordinated efforts by competent authorities, volunteers, community members and visitors, along with adherence to practices that reduce risks to turtles on beaches.

For her part, Ayat bint Saeed Al Kalbani, Supervisor of the “Environmental Protectors” programme, highlighted the important role of volunteers, supervisors and monitors in following up on hatchlings during the hatching period and assisting them when they encounter obstacles.

She also stressed the importance of raising visitors’ awareness about avoiding approaching or disturbing the turtles and refraining from using lighting that could disrupt their natural direction towards the sea.

Al Kalbani explained that these efforts seek to ensure that the largest possible number of hatchlings reach the sea, particularly as the period between leaving the nest and reaching the water represents a sensitive stage in their life cycle.

The programme also included beach-cleaning campaigns covering 700 metres of hidden beaches, one kilometre of Al-Daffa Beach and three kilometres of Ras Al Hadd Beach, helping reduce waste that could pose risks to turtles and other wildlife.

Awareness activities reached 12,298 visitors, including 2,113 visitors from GCC countries and 1,000 foreign visitors. Volunteers also monitored 4,392 vehicles to promote compliance with environmental instructions and requirements in turtle nesting areas and surrounding beaches.

The “Environmental Protectors” programme seeks to engage the community in wildlife conservation efforts, support biodiversity protection and contribute to the sustainability of coastal ecosystems in Oman.