Conserving marine turtles and priority habitats in the Nicaraguan Pacific

Project goals

We aim to ensure that marine turtle populations in the Nicaraguan Pacific are recovering, and priority marine habitats have increased biodiversity and resilience, with coastal communities benefiting as custodians of Nicaragua’s marine ecosystems. To achieve this goal, Fauna & Flora is working towards the following key outcomes over the next five years: 

• Marine turtle nesting and hatching success is maintained and enhanced at the most important nesting sites in Nicaragua, underpinned by reduced demand for, and trade in, marine turtle products. 
• Bycatch of marine turtles and harmful fishing practices are significantly reduced in key foraging grounds, marine protected areas and other priority areas along the Pacific coast of Nicaragua and in the Gulf of Fonseca. 

• Health of priority coastal and marine ecosystems is improved, as a result of enhanced participatory governance and more effective management of protected areas. 
• Coastal communities are motivated towards and actively engaged in coastal and marine conservation and are benefiting from this. 
• Marine and turtle conservation strategies are underpinned by robust scientific understanding, increased national capacity, regional collaboration and sustainable financing.