The number of dead sea turtles found on Playa Bagdad (Matamoros, Tamaulipas) exceeds 500 specimens so far in 2025, according to the environmental organization Conibio Global A.C., dedicated to monitoring and biodiversity conservation.
In just the last week, 33 new strandings were recorded, an alarming increase compared to previous months, when findings were sporadic, with one or two specimens per week.
A species in danger of extinction
Most of the affected animals are juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas), a species classified as in danger of extinction. For experts, this data increases the severity of the phenomenon and the urgency to implement immediate protection actions.
Conibio Global reported that it maintains contact with the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) and plans to send letters to CONAPESCA, SEMAR, and PROFEPA to request the intervention of authorities and determine the cause of the mortality.
Possible causes of mortality
Among the hypotheses proposed is gillnet fishing, where turtles are accidentally trapped in fishing nets. However, constant monitoring is required to confirm the exact cause.
The organization made an urgent call to authorities and society to “protect sea turtles”, reminding that caring for them is also protecting ecosystems and the common future.
Additional reports in Playa Bagdad
Conibio Global has reported on various occasions situations that increase pressure on the area:
- The incursion of people from the United States who placed signs on the sand and in the sea, declaring the area as “restricted.” The Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs intervened to vacate the site, although there is no official update on the matter.
- The presence of space debris attributed to SpaceX, which has been detected on Playa Bagdad and reported by the organization.
Main threats to the green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
The green turtle faces multiple threats, mainly derived from human activities:
- Illegal hunting and capture for meat and eggs, in addition to incidental capture in nets.
- Habitat loss due to coastal development, agriculture, and infrastructure that destroy nesting beaches.
- Marine pollution: ingestion and entanglement in plastics and abandoned fishing gear.
- Climate change: increased temperature in nests, causing an imbalance in the sex of hatchlings and beach erosion.
- Diseases such as fibropapilloma, a lethal tumor caused by a virus.
Historical context and conservation
Intensive exploitation over centuries drastically reduced green turtle populations, bringing them to the brink of extinction. Although the IUCN recently reclassified the species, reflecting a global improvement, local and regional threats persist and keep Chelonia mydas in a critical situation.
Conservation efforts have made progress in some regions, but the massive mortality recorded on Playa Bagdad shows that risks remain high and inter-institutional coordination is essential to reverse the trend.
The finding of more than 500 dead sea turtles on Playa Bagdad during 2025 is a stark reminder of the fragility of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystems and the urgency to strengthen protection measures.
The situation demands an immediate response from Mexican authorities and greater social awareness: protecting sea turtles is protecting biodiversity, the seas, and the future of coastal communities.
