Protecting the habitats for Mozambique’s
sea turtles

our turtle program

Since 2002, a community-based turtle monitoring program has been active on Vamizi and Rongui islands. Working hand-in-hand with the local community, we’ve protected more than 4,500 nests of green turtles and 71 hawksbill turtles, resulting in the protection of 66,500 hatchlings, reducing the poaching of eggs and nesting females to zero on these islands.

This work includes:

  • Year-round daily patrols

  • Protection and marking of all nests

  • Tagging turtles with internal, external, and satellite trackers

  • Community education and awareness programs

  • Preserving nesting beaches and nearby feeding grounds

With over 80% hatching and emergence success, these islands are now recognized as critical nesting sites for sea turtles in the Western Indian Ocean.

They’ve crossed oceans for centuries and with the right protection, they’ll continue their journey long into the future

Years of dedicated turtle conservation are paying off:

With our long-term monitoring in place, Vamizi Island — part of the Quirimbas — has become the country’s most important nesting site for green turtles.

4,772

Protected nests

80%

Hatching success

23

Years of nesting data

Our goal is to expand the turtle protection program to additional islands across the Quirimbas Archipelago. With more training, equipment, and support, local teams can monitor more beaches, tag more turtles, and protect more nests.

We're also contributing data to regional conservation strategies, helping connect protected areas across East Africa — from Mozambique to Kenya, where one of our satellite-tagged turtles is now feeding in Malindi.

With continued support, we can ensure these ancient ocean travellers are safe for generations to come.

what the future holds