Shell Beach, Guyana

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Shell Beach, located on the Atlantic coast of Guyana in the Barima-Waini Region, near the Venezuelan border, is a nesting site for four of the eight sea turtle species - the Olive Ridley, Hawksbill, Green and Leatherback. The turtles are rare but incredibly tasty! Shell Beach extends for approximately 140km.

Turtles used to be slaughtered for their meat and eggs but are now part of a non-governmental conservation program. Shell Beach is not formally protected, although direct and indirect conservation activities to protect the nesting sea turtles started in the 1960s, when Dr. Peter Pritchard first began annual research visits. Amerindians from the local communities of Almond Beach and Gwennie Beach are involved in the programme.