There’s something about the sunset in La Union. No matter how many times I’ve been here, walking barefoot on the sand, watching the fiery orange glow sink into the horizon, and listening to the sound of waves, it always feels like coming home after a long day.
I’ve watched the sunset on various visits to the surf town over the years, but it felt even more meaningful as I watched a clutch of baby sea turtles scurrying across the sand to the ocean for the first time.
It was the peak of sea turtle nesting season during our #NLEXLakbay Norte media trip and we had the rare chance to witness the first journey of baby pawikans into the sea.
La Union is known mostly for its surf scene. But did you know that around 3,000 to 7,000 sea turtle eggs are laid on its beaches yearly?
Sea turtle nesting season typically runs from October to February. It can take roughly 45 to 65 days for eggs to hatch, so releases are expected to last until March or April 2024 this year.
The eager hatchlings we watched are Olive Ridley Sea Turtles, named for the olive color of their heart-shaped shells. Their species is among the smallest of sea turtles, with each hatchling just about 2 to 3 inches long. But these tiny critters can grow up from 2 to 2.5 feet and weigh over 100 pounds as adults. Olive Ridleys can live up to 50 to 60 years.
In contrast, the largest sea turtle ever recorded, a Leatherback, was 8.4 feet long and weighed over a ton (2,000 pounds), roughly about the same weight as a Volkswagen Beetle.
We learned that sea turtles in La Union face less than a 1% chance of survival. In the past, turtle poaching was rampant with turtle nests being raided for eggs and turtles harvested for their meat and shells. Obstacles on the beach, including plastic garbage, high foot traffic from tourists, bright lights from nearby construction or buildings, and loud noises are major hazards faced by turtles in their traditional nesting grounds.
It was in 2009, when the volunteer-run group CURMA or Coastal Underwater Resource Management Action was born to protect the endangered keystone species from poachers and other predators. The acronym also pays homage to the Sanskrit Hindu god Kurma, which means “tortoise” and “turtle.”
Through their marine turtle conservation program, CURMA prevents eggs from being poached and gives turtles a better chance for the first part of their long journey. Former poachers have been tapped as sea turtle protectors, who help locate and transfer turtle nests safely to CURMA’s hatchery in San Juan. Once they’ve hatched, these baby pawikans are released back to the sea.
Sea turtles are born with the instinctive knowledge that they need to make it to the ocean. But their hometown and nesting ground is also ingrained in their system. Carlos Tamayo, the operations director of CURMA told us that sea turtles can read magnetic fields and have a “built-in GPS” that ensures their return.
“This is the most important walk in their life. Since they walk the beach today, they’re going to remember the coordinates of their home beach. And some 10 to 15 years from now, hopefully all of them survive, they’ll come back to this very same beach to lay their eggs,” said Tamayo, as we watched the baby turtles rushing to the ocean to be swept away by waves.
As the world stood still during the first year of the pandemic, CURMA noted a surge in turtle nesting and hatchlings in La Union. These lovely creatures found a peaceful place once again on the beach to lay eggs, devoid of the usual hordes of tourists.
While tourists have come back to La Union, groups like CURMA continue to educate and engage volunteers to avoid plastic garbage, clean up coastlines, and help save turtle nests from poachers.
Sea turtles aren’t just a sight to behold swimming free in the wild. They help keep oceans in balance. Sea turtles apparently play a vital role in maintaining the ocean’s ecosystems and are the best defense against jellyfish, which thrive in warming seas.
Sea turtles are not harmed by stingers of jellyfish; they eat these keeping their numbers in check. This is vital in areas like La Union, which relies highly on tourism from surfing and swimming, as well as the local fishing industry.
If you happen to visit La Union during turtle nesting season, please watch your step on the beach and look out for turtle releases. Witnessing that magical moment of hatchlings’ first steps into the sea might just spark your will to travel more responsibly in the future.
How to save sea turtles when you travel
Here’s how you can join the efforts to protect sea turtles in La Union (and other coastal areas) as shared by CURMA.
- Help a struggling turtle – Marine turtles can get caught in nets, debris, and plastic, which puts them in danger of drowning or injuring themselves. If you come across a trapped turtle, make an effort to cut the turtle loose from fishing gear.
- Engage in community efforts – Join the local efforts to raise awareness and be part of the solution to save the marine turtle population to give them a chance to survive.
- Report to local authorities – Any observations of marine turtles found on land should be reported to local authorities so rescue attempts can be made. Turtles should be tagged and released back into the ocean.
- Don’t support turtle products – It’s illegal to own and trade marine turtles, their by-products, and derivatives. Buying products made from turtle shells and parts will increase demand, which will lead to more turtles being poached.
- Don’t slaughter for turtle meat – It’s against the law to slaughter turtles for their meat. Hunting these marine animals for meat has caused the population’s rapid decline and undermines conservation efforts.
- Do not collect turtle eggs – It is strictly prohibited to collect turtle eggs. If you come across a nest site, leave these alone to avoid interfering with the natural process of reproduction of the species.
Learn more about CURMA’s initiatives on their website. The schedule of sea upcoming turtle releases are announced on their social media accounts. According to CURMA, some upcoming estimated hatching dates for February 2024 are Feb 12, 16, 18, 24, 29, with some nests expected to hatch in April.
- Curma is located at 374 St. Jude Subdivision, Ili Norte, San Juan, La Union.
- Website: curmasifecare.org
- Email: curma@sifcare.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/projectcurma
- Number: +63942 3664519
Additional unwatermarked photos courtesy of CURMA.