2025 nesting season for hawksbill turtles ends

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has announced the end of the 2025 nesting season for the hawksbill sea turtles.The season had started on March 31 and witnessed the release of 8,213 turtle hatchlings. The ministry noted that the Hawksbill Turtle Conservation Project, aimed at protecting this endangered species, was launched in 2003 in collaboration with QatarEnergy and the Environmental Science Centre at Qatar University. Over the past five years, the project has successfully released more than 60,000 hatchlings of this rare species, contributing significantly to the growth of the turtle population in the local Qatari waters.The ministry pointed out that the 2025 season saw the nesting of 219 turtles across eight main locations: Fuwairit, Ras Rakan, Ras Laffan, Sharawa, Umm Tais, Al Ghariyah, Al Maroona, and Al Khor. Specialised environmental teams transferred the discovered nests to Fuwairit Beach, which has been designated as a turtle nesting site since 2020.Besides, the ministry organised 18 educational visits to the turtle site in Fuwairit, especially during the hatchling release events, which drew wide participation from various stakeholders. These visits aimed to raise awareness on the importance of sea turtles and their vital role in maintaining ecological balance.The project team conducted comprehensive field study monitoring at all nesting sites. This included tracking turtles as they laid eggs, taking measurements, tagging turtles with identification numbers, and transferring nests to safe locations at Fuwairit and Ras Laffan beaches. The team also collected DNA samples and installed tracking devices to monitor turtle movements and habitats.The hawksbill turtle nesting season runs from March to the end of June each year, followed by the hatchling release season, which continues until the end of July. Qatar is considered one of the most important nesting habitats for this rare species in the region. Hawksbill turtles are classified as one of the most endangered marine species globally.