In the interest of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to spread awareness and highlight the efforts of the State of Qatar in preserving biodiversity and protecting endangered species; the Ministry will allow the public to visit the turtle project site, participate in sea turtle protection work, and see the efforts made closely for the various groups of society with a focus on school students and children.
The project to protect the endangered Hawksbill sea turtle is one of the pioneering projects in protecting endangered marine species in the country, and is being held under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, funded by Qatar Energy, and implemented by the Environmental Sciences Center at Qatar University, with the participation of a working team from the ministry, represented by the Protection and Wildlife Department.
The work on the sea turtle protection project began in Qatar back in 2003, going through many stages, the last of which was the closure of Fuwairit Beach and the intensification of the release of baby turtles from it, as more than 35,000 baby turtles were released into the sea from Fuwairit Beach during the past five years.
Proposed Visiting Times
Visits start from the beginning of June 2022 (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Saturday) of each week, until the end of July.
Visiting hours are from 7:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.
May visits are for turtle nesting operations.
June and July visits are to watch the re-release of baby turtles.
When booking a visit, there are research options (special approval from Wildlife), media (special approval from Public Relations), public (schools, civil society organizations, individuals…etc).
The visits are under the supervision of the project team and are carried out according to the schedule shown in the tables below:
Turtle Project Visiting Program for 2022 season
Stage One (Nesting)
| Time | Activity | Notes |
| 6:45-6:55 | Assembly at Fuwairit Gate (10 minutes before start time) | |
| 6:55-7:00 | Walk 20 meters to the cabins of the project headquarters | |
| 7:00-7:30 | Listen to project explanation | |
| 7:30-8:15 | Walk 600 – 800 meters to the turtle nesting site, and clean up the beach while doing so. | |
| 8:15-8:45 | Watch mother turtles, and what the work team members do in terms of measurements, turtles’ cleaning work, and eggs transporting | |
| 8:45-9:00 | Visitors return to cabins to prepare for departure |
Project Turtle Visiting Program for 2022 season
Stage Two (Hatching)
| Time | Activity | Notes |
| 6:45-6:55 | Assembly at Fuwairit Gate (10 minutes before start time) | |
| 6:55-7:00 | Walk 20 meters to the cabins of the project headquarters | |
| 7:00-7:30 | Listen to a brief explanation of the project | |
| 7:30-8:15 | Walk 600 – 800 meters to the turtle nesting site, and clean up the beach while doing so | |
| 8:15-8:45 | Watch baby turtles and the measurements made by the work team members, then assemble the turtles, and participate in its re-launch to the sea | |
| 8:45-9:00 | Visitors return to cabins to prepare for departure |
Conditions:
-Follow appropriate measures to preserve the environment and related legislation in the country.
-Maintain site cleanliness.
-Do not prejudice the natural components of the site.
-Do not move around the site unless under the supervision of the work team.
-Present ID card and Ehteraz application.
-The number of persons allowed in one visit is 20 persons.
-The age of the visitor should not be less than 5 years.
-Do not bring pets to the site.
How to behave during turtle nesting season:
-Pay attention to the lights you bring in when visiting Fuwairit Beach as it can negatively affect turtle nesting.
-If you see a turtle approaching, don’t interfere, keep your distance, turn off any bright lights, and be quiet. Disturbed turtles can abort the nesting, accidentally depositing their eggs in the sea and lights can confuse them, and as a result they don’t know which is the right direction to go back to the sea.
-Don’t litter, remove litter if you come across it. Leftovers can attract foxes and other animals that can harm turtles or eat their eggs.
-Respect the plants and animals that surround us, not just the turtles. Do not chase, feed or touch animals in a way that could injure them.
-You should contact the Ministry’s Call Center (184) to report any turtle sightings.
How to behave during turtle hatching season:
-If you see baby turtles appearing, keep your distance and don’t interfere with them. Stay behind or to the side, they must have a clear running path out to sea, while the little ones crawl on the sand.
-Don’t shine light on baby turtles, and that includes flash photography. Baby turtles are attracted to light, which in nature is the brightest horizon above the sea. The artificial light confuses them and leads them away from the sea rather than towards it. Many lost hatchlings of baby turtles die from exhaustion, dehydration, or falling prey to indoor animals.
-Don’t hold them directly with your hands, you can transfer germs to them.
-Gloves should be worn before handling baby turtles.