Five sea turtle species inhabit the Eastern Pacific; all of them are endangered (IUCN Red List, 2000) and four are ecologically extinct. Sea turtle mortality increased with the direct take by poachers who sell their meat and eggs on the black market and by incidental capture in fishing nets, trawls and longlines. While numerous research projects focus on sea turtle ecology, health and genetics, few on-the-ground projects are addressing the main threats to turtle survival. The Grupo Tortuguero was formed in 1999 to fill this void and recover Eastern Pacific sea turtle populations.

The Grupo Tortuguero is a network of individuals, communities, organizations, and institutions from around the world, dedicated to sea turtle conservation. We envision sea turtles fulfilling their ecological roles on a healthy planet where all people value and celebrate their survival. We empower people and their communities to conserve sea turtles, inspiring a revolution in our relationship with the ocean. We accomplish this by building a diverse conservation network to expand knowledge, develop innovative solutions and share them widely.