Consejo Comunitario del Archipiélago de San Bernardo
The territory's own authority and an ally since the start of the monitoring and fisher exchange program.
San Bernardo ArchipelagoCommunities
When communities get involved, protection multiplies.
The true heroes of this story are the people who live in each territory. Our job is to bring people together, to learn and to walk alongside them.
Fisher allies
From the net to the sea
Fishers hand over turtles voluntarily. Instead of selling them, they call us. This is each turtle's journey.
- 1
A fisher finds the turtle
A turtle gets caught in a net or on a hook while fishing.
- 2
They hand it over alive
Instead of killing or selling it, the fisher brings it to the program alive.
- 3
Data, tagging and photo ID
We measure, tag and photo-identify it following standardized protocols.
- 4
Back home
Within 30 days or less it returns to the sea. No head-starting, no retention.
Generations of change
The kids who now lead
Kenner and Alejandro started as children in the Puerto Caracol ecology group. Today they lead biometrics and tagging in San Bernardo. In 2025, Wendy and Liseth joined the monitoring team. This is how conservation grows when it belongs to the community.
- 1
Los Ecosabios
Children from Santa Cruz del Islote and Puerto Caracol take part in every release.
- 2
Young monitors
They learn to measure, tag and record every turtle.
- 3
Program leaders
Today they are the ones teaching and leading in the field.
Guardians of the territory
Those who care for every beach
Asociación de Pescadores Los Esteros
They lead the turtle censuses in La Plata, Bahía Málaga, together with the La Plata Bahía Málaga Community Council.
La Plata, Bahía Málaga · La MINGAGuardianes del Caparazón
A group of local monitors in Bahía Málaga who look after the turtles of their "Pazcífico".
La Plata, Bahía Málaga · La MINGAGuardianes de las tortugas de Bobalito
They watch over Bobalito beach in Necoclí, the largest hawksbill nesting area on the continental Caribbean.
Gulf of Urabá and AcandíCOCOMASUR
The community council protecting La Playona in Acandí, the leatherback sanctuary.
Gulf of Urabá and AcandíComunidad de Mecana
After their first intensive workshop, the community messaged us on WhatsApp to share that 142 olive ridley hatchlings had reached the sea.
Chocó PacificNiñas y niños guardianes de Termales
In Termales, Nuquí, 50 children became turtle guardians.
Chocó Pacific
Where knowledge meets
La MINGA
In Bahía Málaga, the Los Esteros fishers and the Community Council lead the turtle censuses. Together, ancestral, technical and scientific knowledge found the main hawksbill feeding area of the Colombian Pacific.
Rowing together toward a common goal.
Tourism that leaves value in the territory
Viajes ConSentido
In Arusí, Nuquí, together with Madreagua, we travel differently. A talk with Karla, responsible releases, whale watching and work with the community. What you spend stays in the territory.
Read more →Stand with the communities
Your gift sustains workshops, monitoring and the work of the guardians in every territory.