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Projects
Why Sea Turtle Conservation Matters
Hawksbill sea turtles have patrolled these oceans for over 100 million years. Today they're critically endangered — hunted for their shells, choked by plastic, displaced by coastal development, and losing nesting beaches to rising seas. Without intervention, these ancient mariners could disappear within our lifetime. Every nest protected, every hatchling guided to the sea, is a vote for their survival. This is why we exist.
Conservation Starts With You
Sea turtle conservation isn't something that happens in a laboratory — it happens on a dark beach at two in the morning, with ordinary people doing extraordinary things. When you visit, volunteer, or simply spread the word, you become part of a chain of protection that stretches from Gibraltar Beach all the way out into the Caribbean Sea. You don't need a science degree. You need to care.
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One Million Hatchlings
We have released over 300,000 hatchlings since 2005. Our vision is to reach one million — and beyond. With growing community support, stronger partnerships, and sustained ecotourism, we believe we can turn the tide for hawksbill turtles on Jamaica's north coast. Nesting numbers are already rising. The turtles are coming back. We intend to be here when they do.
Come and See For Yourself
The Oracabessa Sea Turtle Project is open to visitors during nesting season. Join a hatchling release and watch dozens of tiny turtles make their first charge toward the sea under the stars. It is one of the most moving things a person can experience — and every ticket directly funds another season of conservation. Come not just as a tourist, but as a guardian.
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From Poachers to Protectors
Before the project began, turtle eggs on Gibraltar Beach fetched the equivalent of a month's building-site wages on the black market. Poachers would wait for a female to lay her eggs, turn her on her back, and take everything. Today, those same men are paid wardens — patrolling the beach nightly, recording nests, and protecting the very animals they once hunted. It is one of the most profound transformations this community has made.
Tracking Turtles Across the Atlantic
The turtles that hatch on Gibraltar Beach don't stay in Jamaica. Satellite tracking has revealed they make multi-year journeys thousands of miles up and down the Atlantic Ocean — some as far as Gibraltar in Europe — before their internal compass brings them back to the exact beach where they were born. Oracabessa contributes data to these global tracking efforts, helping scientists understand migration routes and the threats turtles face far from home.
Partners & Recognition
The project has attracted support from Sandals Foundation, GoldenEye Resort, the US Embassy, UNDP, NEPA and Tufts University. In 2022 Mel received an MBE from the British Crown. He has spoken at TEDxJamaica, received a RJRGLEANER Honour Award, and the project was listed by BBC Travel among 50 Reasons to Love the World. The work started by one retired teacher on one Jamaican beach is now recognised internationally as a model for community-led conservation.