Rosales-Loessener, Fernando 



Nesting Beach Sanctuary on the Atlantic Coast of Guatemala 



Direccion Tecnica de Pesca y Acuicultura 

 Ministerio de Agricultura, Guatemala 



1. INTRODUCTION 



Guatemala possesses 148 km of Caribbean coastline, of which 

 50 km constitute suitable marine turtle nesting beaches. 

 The species which nest on these beaches in order of their 

 abundance are: hawksbill ( Eretmochelys imbricata ) , 

 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) , and the leatherback 

 ( Dermochelys coriacea ) . The nesting activities of these 

 three species occur throughout the year. 



2. OBJECTIVES 



2.1 To establish a sanctuary of 8 km of nesting beach which 

 will permit the effective protection of the three 

 species of turtles which nest there, as well as their 

 nests, eggs and hatchlings. 



2.2 To initiate and maintain a program of environmental 

 education directed toward the neighboring residents 

 which will permit them to acquire consciousness of the 

 need to protect this resource for their own benefit. 



2.3 To serve as a model for the establishment of similar 

 sanctuaries in other areas. 



3. LOCATION OF THE PROJECT 

 (see map) 



4. METHODS /PLAN OF ACTION 



4.1 PHASE ONE (3 months) 



Measurement, demarcation and placement of signs marking 

 the 8 km sanctuary. 



Anno\incement of the project's objectives in the local 

 community. 



Initiation of the project. 



4.2 PHASE TWO (Permanent Operation) 



Night patrols within the sanctuary for the collection 

 of biological data to be undertaken by DITEPESCA. 



341 



