638 Nesting Sites.. A New Map for Protecting Red Sea Turtles

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From surveying more than 2,200 beaches to tracking turtles via satellites and drones, a system for protecting sea turtles is expanding in the Red Sea, which has so far revealed 638 nesting sites, while rescue and care teams have dealt with more than 300 turtles since 2024, returning dozens of them to their natural habitats.

The General Authority for the Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea leads these efforts through a system that combines rescue, treatment, rehabilitation, protection of nesting sites, scientific research and monitoring, in addition to training national competencies and enhancing environmental awareness.

These efforts come in collaboration with the Authority's partners to protect biodiversity and endangered species and ensure the sustainability of marine ecosystems in the Red Sea.

In the area of rescue and care, the Authority, in cooperation with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), has contributed to the operation of the first specialized center for the care of sea turtles in the Middle East, according to standardized treatment protocols.

Four therapeutic and diagnostic techniques have been developed and applied for the first time globally in the care of sea turtles, coinciding with the activation of a 24/7 response network for stranding cases.

During the year 2026, the network dealt with 136 turtles, bringing the total number of cases since 2024 to over 300 turtles. Care programs successfully treated 94 turtles, 74 of which were returned to their natural habitat, in addition to rescuing and treating 20 turtles from some service facilities.

In a path aimed at mapping the habitats of turtles, the organization completed the national baseline assessment of nesting sites after surveying more than 2,200 beaches, revealing 638 sites for sea turtle nesting.

About 70% of nesting cases are concentrated in 23 main sites within a coastal range of approximately 40 kilometers, while the organization is working to link these sites within a unified monitoring program along the Red Sea.

The organization has also prepared and approved an environmental management plan according to the classification of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The monitoring operations led to the discovery of the nesting site of the Four Sisters Islands, which is the largest known site in Saudi waters for nesting green turtles and hawksbill turtles. This was followed by the implementation of seven field missions to survey the habitats.

In Yanbu, the institution is working on preparing recommendations for the rehabilitation of one of the main nesting sites, addressing challenges that include cement dust, heavy metals, and light pollution.

The monitoring operations extended to the use of modern technologies, as the institution utilized drones to identify mating areas for turtles that had not been previously documented. Additionally, six hawksbill turtles were equipped with satellite tracking devices to monitor their movements and understand their distribution patterns in the southern Red Sea.

The teams conducted 150 field surveys, during which more than 520 sightings were recorded, alongside the development of the first national framework to study the distribution of juvenile turtles, their movement patterns, and the habitats they rely on during the early stages of their lives.

The protection efforts were not limited to the beaches and the sea, as the institution implemented training programs for observers from relevant authorities in marine life rescue and turtle monitoring, in addition to an intensive veterinary care program for students from King Faisal University.

The institution, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has developed the 'Blue Schools' curriculum for the primary and secondary stages, placing sea turtles at the forefront of its themes, before its adoption in 2026.

It is also working on preparing a unified national code of conduct to regulate interactions with sea turtles, as part of an approach to build a long-term protection system based on scientific data, modern technologies, and the qualification of national competencies.