KRALENDIJK – Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) published its 2025 annual report on their website and social media last week. It was a remarkable year: with 149 nests recorded, it marked the highest number since data collection began in 2002. In total, 11,641 sea turtle hatchlings successfully emerged from their nests.
Three species in Washington Slagbaai Park
Nests were found at three locations: Klein Bonaire (77 nests), Washington Slagbaai Park (41 nests), and the southern beaches (31 nests). For the first time, all three species — the Green turtle, the Hawksbill, and the Loggerhead — were found nesting simultaneously in Washington Slagbaai Park.
Relocated nests with outstanding success
In 2025, STCB decided to relocate all vulnerable nests to Klein Bonaire, where hatch rates are highest. This resulted in a hatch rate of an impressive 96.9 percent, significantly higher than on the southern beaches, where moisture and fungal infections have traditionally led to lower rates.
AI identifies turtles by their face
In collaboration with tech company Xomnia, STCB developed an AI application that identifies individual turtles by the unique scale pattern on their face — similar to a fingerprint. Accuracy improved by 27 percent, and the system has a success rate of over 75 percent. In time, it could make the invasive tagging method obsolete.
New office and strategic plan
In 2025, STCB opened a new office and Visitor Center on the waterfront boulevard in Kralendijk. At the same time, a new Strategic Plan 2025–2030 was presented, built around the pillars of financial resilience, a strong team, and greater visibility.
Volunteers contributed over five thousand hours
Volunteers contributed a total of 5,366 hours to STCB’s work, including beach patrols, underwater surveys, nest monitoring, and cleanup dives. In 2025, nine fishing line removal dives were conducted, and 38 presentations reached more than five hundred people. In addition, 286 turtles received a new tag and 42 nests were adopted.
Nest update
On June 1, STCB also shared an update on the current nesting season. Twelve nests have been confirmed so far: eleven on Klein Bonaire and one along the southern beaches. The first nests are expected to hatch in July.
Anyone wishing to join a nest monitoring patrol can reserve a spot at bonaireturtles.org.
Read the full report here.
