On March 28 the official arrival (arribada) of Olive Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) began at the area known as Main Nesting Beach in Playa Ostional, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

The National System of Areas of Conservation is taking control and protection actions to avoid the illegal transportation and commerce of sea turtle eggs in these sites.

Each olive ridley turtles can lay in average 105 eggs, given all the proper conditions at the beach the eggs take approximately 45 days to hatch, however only 1% of the eggs survive predators. Members of the Asociacion de Desarrollo Integral de Ostional (Ostional Development Association) have a special government permit since 1987 that allows them to extract a 6% of the total of eggs to sell for human consumption; members of the Association depend of the income generated from the sale of the eggs, and therefore they also help protect the turtles and the eggs from illegal poachers.

The only entity legally authorized to extract and commercialize the Olive Ridley turtles’ eggs is the Asociacion de Desarrollo Integral de Ostional (ADIO), the Association uses sealed plastic bags labeled with ADIO logos. ADIO must also provide invoices with the information and signatures of the Association and the Fishing Institute (INCOPESCA).

The arribada was expected to conclude between yesterday (Friday) and today. The Wildlife Refuge Ostional reminds visitors that this beach has restricted access, entry is allowed only in the company of an authorized local guide.
During this time a year the arribadas are shorter, lasting from two to three days.