Operation Jairo Mora

Every nest. Every hatchling. Every chance.

Costa Rica is home to five of the seven sea turtle species on Earth — and their nests are being stolen. Operation Jairo Mora is our commitment to protect them: to educate, and to take action for change.

The Mission

Five of the seven species on Earth nest on our coasts.

Costa Rica’s location, the influence of the Costa Rica Thermal Dome, and the richness of its marine ecosystems make our coastlines a natural refuge for these migratory species.

At Playa Hermosa — within the Playa Hermosa Wildlife Refuge — and at Playa Palo Seco, we work continuously to establish and strengthen sea turtle hatcheries, reducing the impact of illegal egg harvesting and increasing the number of hatchlings that safely reach the ocean.

Every action strictly follows the scientific guidelines of the Costa Rica Sea Turtle Conservation Manual, so each step contributes effectively to the recovery of turtle populations.

Operation Jairo Mora was the first campaign successfully launched within this new chapter of our work in Costa Rica.

It is more than a conservation program. It is a collective effort to protect marine life, strengthen environmental education, and foster a culture of respect and stewardship for our oceans.

The Challenge

A nest robbed is a future lost at sea.

Despite the efforts of organizations, communities, and individuals, a substantial number of sea turtle nests are still poached by illegal egg collectors who sell turtle eggs across the country.

We know reversing this reality will not be easy. But we have already begun the journey — and we are determined to move forward, one protected nest at a time.

Within the Wildlife Refuge

Playa Hermosa

A hatchery built from the ground up, protecting nests along one of the Central Pacific’s most important nesting beaches.

Expanding our reach

Playa Palo Seco

A second front where we strengthen protection and relocate nests out of the reach of illegal egg collectors.

Our Impact in 2025

Proof that protection works.

Every figure below is a nest that reached the water instead of a market, the direct result of monitoring, hatcheries, and the communities standing with us.

Night monitoring activities patrolling nesting beaches after dark.

7,000+

Sea turtles born and successfully returned to the sea across communities.

Hatchery construction supported at Playa Hermosa, built from the ground up.

2,010+

People reached through education in the first months of 2026.

Beyond the Beach

Conservation is more than a nest.

Our work extends far beyond direct beach protection. We build the knowledge, the divers, and the community will that turtles need to survive for generations.

Environmental Education

Reaching every age.

Workshops, talks, and outreach in schools and communities. In the first months of 2026 alone, we reached more than 2,010 people.

Underwater Cleanups

Clearing the ghost gear.

Specialized divers remove abandoned fishing gear and marine debris that pose a constant threat to hundreds of marine species.

Training & Lectures

Sharing the science.

Public lectures and forums on sea turtle management and protection, building awareness of why wildlife conservation matters in Costa Rica.

Our Long-Term Vision

A Sea Turtle Research Center.

Our goal is to create a center where people from around the world can come to Costa Rica to learn about and study the five sea turtle species that nest along our coasts.

Our commitment is clear: to educate, and to take action for change.

If you want to get involved - [email protected]

From the Field

On the front lines.

The Bottom Line

If the ocean dies, we die. .

Every nest protected, every person educated, and every sea turtle returned to the ocean represents hope for the future of our ecosystems. Our mission is to empower communities to become active participants in conservation.