The EMA is warning of fines of up to $100,000 or two years in jail for those violating the law relating to leatherback turtles.
The nesting season opened on March 1st, with turtles already reported in certain areas.
Key nesting sites include Grande Riviere, Matura, Fishing Pond, Las Cuevas, Blanchisseuse, Yarra and Toco in Trinidad, as well as Stonehaven Bay, Mount Irvine Bay and Englishman’s Bay in Tobago.
Matura, Fishing Pond, and Grande Riviere are Prohibited Areas under the Forests Act, which means visitors must obtain permission from the Forestry Division for turtle viewing.
The EMA is reminding persons that they are not to: drive onto nesting beaches; litter, dig holes or leave objects behind, touch the turtles or hatchlings; or obstruct their path to the sea.
Instead, there should be a distance of 20 metres from nesting turtles, and persons should avoid flash photography or bright lights.
According to the EMA, the 2026 nesting season is particularly critical, as Leatherback turtles face increasing ecological pressures.
it adds that conservation efforts this year will shape the future of sea turtles and the health of coastal ecosystems for years to come.
Nesting data from key beaches illustrates both successes and challenges:
• Grande Riviere: Nests increased from 2,985 in 2008 to 5,361 in 2018, with peaks of 6,113 (2016) and 6,447 (2017). The 2025 count fell to 1,683, likely due to reduced patrols and monitoring.
• Matura/Nature Seekers: Historical nesting rose from 1,607 (2008) to 3,545 (2018), peaking at 5,749 in 2017. Recent counts show 5,219 nests in 2023, declining to 2,722 in 2025.
• Fishing Pond: Largely stable after 2016, but with fluctuations such as a drop to 493 in 2010 and a peak of 3,779 in 2014.
The turtle nesting season runs from March 1st to August 31st.
