Our mission is to protect sea turtles and the habitats in which they live.
Learn how we protect sea turtles below
Six core programs drive our conservation work on Aruba's beaches.
1. Beach monitoring every season
Every beach on Aruba is monitored daily during nesting season to collect data on nesting activity. Early morning patrols are our primary method β volunteers identify nests, record the nesting date and exact location, and place protection materials to keep each nest safe until it hatches.
Volunteers who join our monitoring programme commit to the full season. Before patrols begin, every volunteer is trained on our monitoring protocol to ensure consistent, reliable data.
Over more than two decades of coordinated monitoring, more than a hundred volunteers have walked these beaches alongside us.
2.Nest Protection
Once a nest identified, we place protective material to ensure their safety. Protective barriers are placed around these vulnerable nests, particularly those on heavily visited beaches and most exposed to artificial lighting.
3. Sea turtle rescue
Over the years, Turtugaruba has been involved in multiple sea turtle rescue operations. Nesting females can become disoriented by artificial lighting and lose their way back to the sea. In one instance, working alongside Aruba's Fire Department, our team successfully rescued a Green Turtle that had strayed far from the waterline.
In another case on Eagle Beach, a nesting Leatherback became entangled in ropes used to moor jet skis in the water. Alerted by passersby, our team reached her in time and managed to free her safely.
4. Beach Clean-Ups
A clean beach is a safe beach for turtles. Debris from plastic waste to abandoned equipment can trap hatchlings, block nesting females, or be ingested as food. Turtugaruba organises multiple beach clean-ups every year, removing hazards and keeping Arubaβs beaches and the most suitable condition for sea turtles.
5. Outreach & Education
Conservation only works if communities care. Turtugaruba is actively involved in bringing knowledge and awareness to the people of Aruba through school programmes, public campaigns, and direct engagement with locals and visitors on the beach.
6. Data Collection & Research
Every nest tells a story. Turtugaruba collects scientific data from each individual nest including temperature, depth, egg data, and genetics. Building a detailed picture of the health and behaviour of Aruba's sea turtle populations over time. We also deploy satellite trackers on nesting females, giving us, and the WIDECAST research network valuable insights into their movements across the Caribbean.
Meet the Team - Board of Directors
Edith van der Wal
PRESIDENT
Edith, co-founded Turtugaruba Foundation in 2003, after having started operations 10 years prior. As the president, she leads the foundation and is the main steward of our mission.
Richard van der Wal
SECRETARY
Richard is the secretary of our foundation. He is furthermore the WIDECAST country coordinator for Aruba, along with Edith, and a member of the marine turtle specialist group of the IUCN.
Albi Valdez
TREASURER
Albi is responsible for managing our finances and social media presence. Together with Laura, he forms our in-water specialist team.
Laura Gurrieri
FIELDWORK COORDINATOR
Laura coordinates our day-to-day fieldwork. She is supported by the 3 other board members and about 25 fieldwork volunteers.
Curious about the turtles we protect?
