The management board of Hon Cau Marine Protected Area in Tuy Phong District, Binh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam, announced that its patrol team recently discovered a sea turtle egg nest, possibly from the rare hawksbill turtle, marking the first sighting of this species laying eggs in the area in two years.

Staff at Hon Cau Marine Protected Area collected, preserved, and relocated all 78 sea turtle eggs to a secure hatching site. 

Under normal weather conditions, the eggs are expected to hatch within 45 to 60 days.

The Hon Cau Marine Protected Area Management Board reported that this is the first time in two years that sea turtles have come to Hon Cau to lay eggs. 

In 2022 and 2023, although turtles visited the area, they did not lay eggs.

To ensure the safety of the turtles during the breeding season, staff and volunteers regularly patrol the turtle nesting beach. 

If a turtle is spotted laying eggs, the nest is promptly relocated, and all traces of the turtle are erased to prevent poaching and ensure the turtles’ protection.

The Hon Cau Marine Protected Area, located about 10km from the mainland, is one of 16 significant marine conservation zones in Vietnam, according to the Vietnam News Agency. 

Covering approximately 12,500 hectares, it includes island areas, protective buffers, core zones, buffer zones, and ecological restoration areas.

This protected area features a diverse ecosystem with coral reefs and seagrass beds and serves as a vital habitat and nesting ground for numerous rare and ecologically and economically important marine species.

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