On the beaches outside Guanahacabibes National Park this Monday morning, local researchers are surveying newly hatched green turtle nests—an activity that would have been unthinkable in Cuba’s commercial fishing heyday. For most of the 20th century, the country’s sea turtles faced industrial-scale exploitation: Cuban fisheries reported annual landings averaging 836 metric tons in the 1980s, with green turtles harvested for meat and hawksbills prized for their ornate shells.

The transformation from harvesting to protection has been shaped by the advocacy and research of marine biologist Félix Guillermo Moncada Gavilán, whose work is now cited by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment as foundational to new regulatory frameworks. In recent summers, Cuba’s turtle conservation zones have expanded, with full legal protection for all marine turtle species now enforced across the archipelago’s key nesting areas.

This policy reversal was not merely symbolic. According to the Cuban Center for Marine Research, 2026 marks the fifth consecutive year with no legal turtle fisheries operating on the island. Enforcement remains a challenge, especially during the summer tourist season, when illicit trade in turtle shell jewelry can resurface in coastal markets. Yet monitoring data published last week indicates nesting numbers for both green and hawksbill turtles are trending upward along the southern coast.

International observers, including the UN Environment Programme, have recognized Cuba’s progress, but warn that success hinges on sustained funding for community patrols and nest protection—particularly as this July’s record-breaking heat threatens hatchling survival. The country’s 2026 SDG reporting highlights marine biodiversity gains, but also stresses the need for continued vigilance against poaching and illegal export.

While the shift from extraction to conservation is well underway, local NGOs caution that public education and economic alternatives for former fisherfolk must remain priorities in the coming months. As summer peaks and nesting season continues, Cuba’s experience offers a live case study in reconciling biodiversity goals with coastal livelihoods.