212 sea turtle eggs rescued in Colima

The Mexican Ministry of Navy (SEMAR) and the Federal Attorney of Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) recovered 212 eggs, from the endangered Pacific ridley sea turtle, in Las Brisas beach of the municipality of Manzanillo, Colima.

The eggs of “golfina” or olive ridley sea turtle were handed in to the turtle camp of the University of Colima for their hatching, after several predators were identified by members of the 6th Navy Region of the Ministry of Navy.

Article 420 of the Federal Criminal Code establishes that “any activity intended to the trafficking, capture, possession, transport and collection of parts and derivatives of the sea turtle is labeled as a federal crime and is punished with up to 9 years in prison, as well as with a fine that goes from 300 to 3000 days of the applicable unit of measure and update (UMA)”.

The Pacific ridley sea turtle is labeled NOM-059-SEMARNAT as an endangered species, in the Official Mexican Standard (NOM) of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT).

Mexico is home to the largest number of sea turtles that nest in its beaches to feed and breed.