Olive Ridley turtle conservation

Olive ridley sea turtles are considered vulnerable worldwide, but in places like Nicaragua, their survival is especially threatened by widespread egg poaching. Despite legal protections, large numbers of olive ridley eggs are still collected from nesting beaches—particularly during arribadas—for local consumption and sale, drastically reducing hatchling success. This pressure is compounded by bycatch in fisheries, coastal development, artificial lighting, plastic pollution, and the growing impacts of climate change. Because olive ridleys rely on returning to the same beaches year after year, continued poaching in Nicaragua puts entire nesting populations at risk. Strengthening community-based conservation, protecting nesting beaches, and supporting alternative livelihoods are essential to securing a future for olive ridley turtles in the region.