Egg Ban In Guatemala!!

The National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) issued a ban on sea turtle egg collection between October 15, 2012 and October 15, 2017 of the species Leatherback (

Dermochelys coriacea), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Green (Chelonia mydas), Black (Chelonia mydas agassizzii), and Loggerhead (Caretta caretta). Stating that the exploitation of eggs of these species is a threat to their survival and that this has caused "a marked decrease in their populations," it announced it is taking "necessary and urgent" measures for their protection and conservation. The ban authorizes the collection of olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtle eggs during the same five years, but only if collectors give 20 percent of the eggs collected to a registered hatchery. ARCAS has been working with CONAP and the USAID/MAREA project to strengthen sea turtle conservation efforts in Guatemala.