As part of a mission to prospect the potential of blue ecotourism in the South-West region of Cote d’Ivoire, Mr Seraphin DEDI, Executive Director of the NGO Oceans Friends International, went this weekend of 1st December 2024, discovering the sea turtles in the village of ROC DOUGBALE, in GRAND BEREBY.

This mission facilitated by Mrs. Suzanne Koffi, Regional Director of Tourism, in San Pedro, allowed, among other things, the meeting with the local community, the visit to the potential sites of blue ecotourism particularly the flooded valley, the developed beaches and the marine turtle hatchery established by the NGO Conservation of Marine Species (CEM).

This hatchery, established since 2010, is a protected space which increases the chances of survival of nests and baby turtles. Indeed, faced with the threat posed by poachers, pollution, the passage of vehicles on the beaches, noise pollution, natural (crab) and introduced (dogs) predators, coastal erosion, one baby turtle in 1000 reaches to survive into adulthood. This project therefore promotes the collection of turtle eggs, the transplantation of threatened nests, the incubation of eggs, the protection of babies and young turtles are released into the marine environment.

Through this initiative, thousands of baby turtles are returned to the water each year and provides decent employment for around ten young poachers, now converted into tourist guides and conservation technicians for the sea turtles in this village.