Inside Fregate’s Sea Turtle Nesting Season 2024–2025

From September to March, sea turtles arrive on Fregate’s shores to lay their eggs — one of the most special sights we get to witness each year. As the 2024–25 nesting season draws to a close, we reflect on the incredible activity we have witnessed — and the science and care behind every single track and nest.

Why Fregate?

Fregate Island is a vital nesting ground for two species of sea turtles: the critically endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Our seven sandy beaches offer a haven for the turtles, who return here — often to the very beach where they were born — to lay their eggs.

What makes Fregate truly special is that it supports one of the five largest remaining populations of hawksbill turtles in the world.

A Season to Remember

This season has been our busiest in recent years. From a slow start in September to a peak in December and January, we recorded 511 turtle nests — 489 hawksbill and 22 green turtles — spread across all seven of our nesting beaches.

• Grand Anse once again took the lead, with 361 nests recorded.
• In total, 788 turtle tracks were logged, and we estimate around 170 individual females visited our island this season.
• 35 turtles were tagged to support long-term monitoring.

These numbers make this the busiest nesting season since we began keeping detailed records.

Daily Patrols and Conservation in Action

Our conservation team patrols all beaches daily during the nesting season, with Grand Anse — our busiest turtle beach — being checked twice a day. Every nesting attempt is logged, and the fate of each nest is followed from the moment it is laid to when the hatchlings emerge.

Some nests need our help to survive. 81 nests were relocated this season, mostly due to threats like sand erosion or high crab predation. Of those, 47 were transferred to our protected hatchery, a controlled environment we have been refining over the past three years to improve hatching success.

Why This Work Matters

Monitoring sea turtles is not only about counting nests. It is about understanding the bigger picture:

• Where do turtles choose to nest, and why?

• How often do individual females return?

• What is the impact of environmental changes on nesting success?

Every detail matters. From the turtle’s cautious emergence onto the beach, through body pitting, egg laying, and camouflaging the nest, each step is monitored with care and minimal disturbance. The information gathered helps us better protect not only the turtles themselves, but the beaches they rely on — now and for generations to come.

A Journey That Begins in Sand

Once laid, sea turtle eggs incubate for about 60 days. Hatchlings emerge — usually at night — using the light of the horizon to find their way to the sea. This short, frantic journey imprints the beach’s location into their memory, guiding them back years later when they return as adults to nest.

The journey to the sea is full of challenges, and not all hatchlings make it. That is why we do everything we can to give each nest the best chance.

Looking Ahead

Fregate’s turtle monitoring program is not just a seasonal effort — it is a long-term commitment. We are learning more with each passing year and making small improvements to our practices based on what we observe.

If you dream of witnessing sea turtles nesting or hatchlings making their first journey to the ocean, be sure to plan your visit between November and January once we reopen — these are the busiest and most rewarding months of the season.