Sea turtle farming

The problem

Sea turtles are solitary, migratory creatures, born to swim long distances in clear waters. They are wild animals. Imagine the cruelty of trapping one in a tiny, filthy tank. Now imagine hundreds, even thousands.

At the Cayman Turtle Farm, approximately 5,000 endangered green sea turtles are farmed for meat. Packed in filthy tanks, turtles get so sick and stressed they bite and maim each other.

It's the last facility of its kind anywhere, and tourists are encouraged to handle turtles and take selfie pictures, not realizing that this causes the turtles stress. The tourists are also targeted when the same turtles are slaughtered and served as steaks and burgers in local restaurants.

The solution

These amazing creatures deserve a better, natural life.

The centre should be turned into a sea turtle rehabilitation and education facility, much like the Kélonia Observatory for Marine Turtles on the island of Réunion, which mirrors the conditions of a turtle’s natural habitat.

Kélonia has become a respected research sea turtle conservation and education facility, and a popular eco-tourist destination. Its success shows that it is possible for the Cayman Turtle Centre to shift away from turtle farming and towards a more humane, sustainable and profitable alternative.

The transformation from turtle farm to rehabilitation and release center has happened before. It can happen again. Help move the Cayman government, the legal owner of the farm, to improve the conditions at the farm and create positive change for sea turtles.