The Government reports the hatching of 62 sea turtle hatchlings in Palma

So far, a total of 62 hatchlings have been counted.

Conseller Joan Simonet expressed his gratitude for the work and involvement of the technical staff of the Conselleria, especially COFIB, as well as other administrations, organizations, and volunteers: “I also want to thank the general public for respecting the nest area and helping maintain a safe environment for the species.”

The Conselleria de Agricultura, Pesca y Medio Natural, through the Dirección General de Medio Natural y Gestión Forestal, has reported the start of the hatching of the first sea turtle (Caretta caretta) hatchlings from the nest detected on July 17th at Can Pere Antoni beach in Palma. Almost two months after the eggs were laid, on Friday, 10 turtles hatched from the eggs that were kept under artificial incubation, and on September 6th, the first turtle emerged from the nest to the surface. Subsequently, throughout the early hours, additional hatchlings emerged, bringing the total to 52 new turtles, making a cumulative total of 62 hatchlings. Additional turtles could still hatch today.

It should be noted that this nest at Can Pere Antoni contained 77 eggs: 67 remained on the beach, protected for natural incubation, while the remaining 10 were transferred to the Aula de la Mar marine interpretation center, facilities provided by the Ayuntamiento de Palma, where the eggs underwent two months of artificial incubation to increase hatching success.

Conseller Joan Simonet highlighted “the work of the technical staff of the Conselleria, especially the Consorcio para la Recuperación de la Fauna de las Islas Baleares (COFIB), as well as other administrations, such as the Ayuntamiento de Palma, and collaborating organizations.” He also thanked the volunteers who have guarded the nest 24 hours a day since August 27: “Their vigilance has been vital in keeping the nest in proper conditions to allow the eggs to thrive and to detect the hatchlings immediately. I also want to thank the general public for respecting the nest area and maintaining a safe environment for the species.”

Anna Torres, Director General de Medio Natural y Gestión Forestal, emphasized that “September and October are the months with the highest probability of detecting sea turtle hatchlings. Therefore, it is very important to immediately call emergency services at 112 if such a situation is encountered, so that the protocol can be activated to protect the hatchlings and locate the nest they came from.”

Following the established protocol, all hatchlings are transferred to the facilities of the Laboratorio de Investigaciones Marinas y Acuicultura (LIMIA) in Puerto de Andratx, where COFIB’s marine fauna department performs identification, biometric measurements, and health assessments. Afterward, the head-starting program begins, part of the national conservation strategy, which involves rearing the turtles in controlled conditions for 10–12 months to increase their chances of survival before being released into the sea.

In addition to the work of COFIB staff and volunteers, the involvement of Govern environmental agents and collaborating organizations such as the Fundación Palma Aquarium, the lifeguard team of Playa de Palma, and Aula de la Mar has been essential.

It should be noted that, in addition to the nest at Can Pere Antoni, another nest was confirmed on August 7 in Es Cavallet beach, Ibiza, within the Ses Salines Natural Park, containing 85 eggs.

The Caretta caretta is classified as a “vulnerable” species, and its presence along the coasts of the Balearic Islands has become increasingly common in recent years. The first confirmed nesting in the archipelago was in Ibiza in 2019.