Doha: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change announced on Wednesday the start of the marine turtle nesting season in the State of Qatar, which runs from April 1 to August 1. This announcement comes as part of the country's commitment to protecting endangered species and monitoring rare terrestrial and marine wildlife, which are considered a national treasure for current and future generations.

According to Qatar News Agency, Director of the Wildlife Development Department at the Ministry, Khalid Jumaa Al Mohannadi, stated that the Ministry is monitoring all nests of hawksbill sea turtles along the northern coasts and islands of the country. He noted that relocating nests threatened by high tides and monitoring their temperature are essential actions to ensure successful hatching.

Al Mohannadi highlighted that climate change and human activities pose significant risks to the turtles, and efforts are underway to address these challenges through continuous field monitoring programs and raising public awareness about the importance of protecting this endangered species. The Director also emphasized the importance of taking DNA samples to study the embryonic composition of the turtles and improve protection plans.

He explained that these measures have resulted in the release of more than 60,000 hatchlings back into the sea over recent years, contributing to enhancing ecological balance along Qatar's coasts. The hawksbill sea turtle has been classified as an endangered species since 1982 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Qatar launched a protection project for this species in 2003, making it one of the leading initiatives in safeguarding endangered marine species in the country. The project aims to preserve hawksbill sea turtles along Qatar's northern coasts, including the beaches of Ras Laffan, Al Huwailah, Al Jassasiya, Al Maroona, Fuwairit, Al Ghariyah, and Al Mafyar, as well as the islands of Umm Tais, Ras Rakan, Shraoh, and Halul.