Saudi conservation efforts drive sea turtle recovery at Ras Baridi

Saudi Arabia is drawing attention to its dedicated conservation work for sea turtles, particularly at Ras Baridi Beach, a vital nesting ground. The Kingdom is using World Sea Turtle Day, June 16, to showcase these efforts.

Ras Baridi, located about 70 kilometers north of Yanbu, is recognized as Saudi Arabia's most significant and well-known site for sea turtle nesting. Globally, the situation for sea turtles is dire, with six of the seven species classified as vulnerable or endangered. The green turtle faces endangerment, while the hawksbill turtle is critically endangered.

Within Saudi waters, five of the seven global species have been observed. The green turtle and the hawksbill turtle are the two species that nest along the Kingdom's coastlines. Important nesting locations are spread across the Farasan Islands, Jabal Hassan and Al-Waqqadi islands, Ras Baridi, and the Karan and Jana islands in the Arabian Gulf. Encouragingly, monitoring data from Ras Baridi indicates a significant recovery in the sea turtle population there.