New Sign Installed to Raise Awareness and Curb Sea Turtle Poaching

An image featuring the recently installed awareness sign. Photo credit: Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture.

By S. Browne. Updated 1:57 p.m., Saturday, April 18, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Efforts to combat sea turtle poaching in Colonaire have been strengthened with the installation of a new conservation sign aimed at raising public awareness and encouraging behavioural change.

The sign, installed on April 1, 2026, forms part of ongoing initiatives under the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Strengthening Project (SVGCMEMS). It is intended to educate residents and visitors about the importance of protecting sea turtles and to highlight the negative impact of poaching on the country’s marine biodiversity.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture, the initiative is one of several measures being implemented to support conservation efforts in coastal communities.

As part of its broader programme, the SVGCMEMS Project trained more than 20 community volunteers in basic sea turtle monitoring techniques in March 2025. The project also facilitated four late-night beach patrols during the 2025 nesting season, which runs from April to August.

In October 2025, sea turtle monitoring supplies valued at EC$3,218 were donated to monitors in Colonaire and Sandy Bay. These efforts were carried out in collaboration with the Fisheries Division and local volunteers in Colonaire, Big Sand and Sandy Bay.

The SVGCMEMS Project is a Government initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) at a cost of US$3.65 million and is being implemented by the World Bank over a five-year period from April 2022 to 2027. Locally, the project is managed by the Sustainable Development Unit within the Ministry.

The project aims to strengthen the management of coastal and marine ecosystems, contributing to the long-term protection and resilience of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ natural resources.

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This information was sourced from a press release by the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development, and Culture.