Doha, June 14 (QNA) - The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) has launched the season for the hatching and release of juvenile hawksbill sea turtles into their natural habitat at Fuwairit Beach.

The move is part of the nation’s efforts to protect biodiversity and conserve endangered marine species.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry said the current season recorded 284 nesting events across seven key sites along the country's northern coastline, compared with 219 nesting events during the previous season.

 The increase, the statement reads, reflects the success of national programs aimed at protecting sea turtles and fostering the sustainability of their natural habitats.

The Ministry noted that field-monitoring activities documented the return of a number of female hawksbill turtles to Qatari beaches to nest more than once during the same season.

Using identification tags attached to their flippers, specialists recorded repeat visits by 15 turtles. One turtle completed four nesting cycles, while others returned three or two times, a development that squarely aligns with scientific indicators of successful conservation efforts and the provision of a suitable environment for the reproduction of this endangered species.

These findings reflect the efficiency of the monitoring and scientific follow-up programs carried out by specialized teams. The programs include tracking sea turtles and collecting and analyzing biological and environmental data, thereby contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge and supporting national and regional conservation efforts, the Ministry suggested.

Protected nests that have been monitored since the beginning of the season have started producing new hatchlings, which are being released into the sea in accordance with precise scientific procedures designed to enhance their chances of survival and eventual return to Qatari shores to complete their natural life cycle.

  The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to continuing monitoring and follow-up activities until the end of the season, thereby supporting the protection of sea turtles, preserving the sustainability of coastal and marine ecosystems, and furthering Qatar's position in the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources.

It added that these efforts are being undertaken by the Wildlife Development Department of the Protection and Nature Reserves Sector, in collaboration with the Nature Reserves Department and the Marine Protection Department.

The initiative encompasses monitoring the sea-turtle nesting season, protecting nests, and overseeing the hatching and release process in accordance with the latest approved scientific standards.

The sea-turtle protection project, which was set in motion in 2003, remains one of the nation’s pioneering environmental initiatives.

Over more than two decades, it has successfully strengthened the protection of hawksbill turtles, which are globally classified as endangered species, through integrated programs encompassing field monitoring, nest protection, hatchling follow-up, environmental awareness, and the engagement of varied national entities in marine conservation efforts.

The antecedents of this long-term success lie in sustained scientific monitoring, habitat protection, and the coordinated efforts of multiple institutions dedicated to preserving Qatar's marine environment. (QNA)