JEDDAH: Hawksbill turtles are among the world’s most endangered marine species and are listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Their populations have plummeted due to hunting for their shells and mounting pressures from climate change, pollution, fishing activities, and coastal development. Effective protection depends on understanding where these turtles feed, nest, and migrate.
In response, Saudi Arabia has intensified conservation efforts. In 2021, the government established the General Organization for the Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea, known as SHAMS. The organization is mandated to protect, manage, and sustain coral reef ecosystems and marine turtle populations, including their nesting sites along the Red Sea coastline.
Did you know?
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is home to five of the world’s seven sea turtle species.
