On Guatemala’s remote Pacific coast, El Jiote Island harbors one of the region’s most successful sea turtle conservation efforts. This volcanic island provides critical nesting habitat for three sea turtle species: green, olive ridley, and critically endangered Pacific leatherbacks.

Turtle conservation on the island faces a significant challenge: Islanders traditionally harvest eggs to eat or sell on the mainland. For years, volunteers have paid community members for the eggs they collect, tended the eggs, and released the hatchlings. The Manuelita Turtle Hatchery, located beside a community school, has become Guatemala’s most productive Pacific turtle facility. The hatchery’s simple structure provides essential shade on the dark volcanic sand beaches, which absorb so much heat that they can prevent eggs from hatching.

In June 2025, Seacology funded a project to shift the culture toward donating turtle eggs instead of selling them. The community improved the school and established a community chicken farm, managed by students, staff, and residents. This has improved food security, lessened reliance on wild turtle eggs, and galvanized local pride in the hatchery. Community members now patrol mangrove forests to prevent illegal logging and hunting, which protects native hawks, endemic iguanas, and migratory birds. The numbers tell the story: In 2024, the hatchery released 18,999 hatchlings. In 2025, a whopping 58,033 hatchlings were released.

On the heels of this success, our partner NGO Chapinísimos en Acción and the El Jiote community are expanding the hatchery, which was over capacity last season, by 430 square feet. A community team will plant and protect mangroves and other species, and hold cleanup events, with support from the local CONAP (protected area) officer. Households that donate turtle eggs to the hatchery will receive hens and materials to house them.