FIELD NOTES
This month, we travel to a sea turtle nesting beach in mexico, hang out poolside in Hawaiʻi and Explore traditional coconut leaf weaving techniques in seychelles
SEYCHELLES
a CLEANUP exploring traditional island culture
Alongside their ongoing work on blue carbon ecosystems, the Parley Seychelles team kicked off February with an especially meaningful event on the island of La Digue. The day began with a beach cleanup at the world’s most photographed beach, Anse Source d’Argent, where volunteers collected 76.5 kg of waste. Alongside this effort, our team took the opportunity to engage with La Digue’s schoolchildren, sharing knowledge about the vital role of seagrass in marine ecosystems, since Anse Source d’Argent is home to an impressive seagrass meadow.
Following the cleanup, they met up with Mr. Mellon, a respected elder of La Digue and a master of traditional coconut leaf weaving. He introduced everyone to Kapatya, a handcrafted basket that was once a staple in Seychelles, used in place of plastic bags for carrying fruits and vegetables. While the Kapatya is now mostly seen at festivals or as decoration, its decline in everyday use means that younger generations have little exposure to this sustainable tradition.
As Country Director Alvania Lawen explains, “this Parley event helped bridge the intergenerational gap. Under Mr. Mellon’s guidance, we learned the intricate art of weaving Kapatya, reviving a skill that connects us to our cultural roots. By the end of the day, everyone (including myself) proudly carried home their own handmade Kapatya. The day was a beautiful fusion of environmental conservation and Creole heritage, reminding us that sustainability is not just about protecting nature but also about preserving the wisdom of the past.”
MEXICO
SAFEGUARDING SEA TURTLES WITH TARGETED CLEANUPS
The sun-drenched sands of Xcacel-Xcacelito, nestled along the Riviera Maya in Mexico, hold a secret of immense ecological importance. These pristine beaches are one of the most significant sea turtle nesting sites in the entire Mexican Caribbean. To celebrate 27 years since the coast here became a state-protected area, Parley Mexico and partners celebrated with a cleanup designed to help keep nesting sea turtles – and other wildlife – safe.
“The sanctuary provides a critical habitat for key species of endangered sea turtles including loggerheads and green sea turtles,” explains Ximena Arvizu of Parley Mexico. “They return year after year to lay their eggs in the warm sands. The rhythmic crashing of waves against the shore provides the soundtrack to this ancient and vital life cycle.”
In 2024 alone, the tireless efforts of conservationists and volunteers helped document a remarkable 6,000 green sea turtle and 300 loggerhead nests within Xcacel-Xcacelito, according to Alejandro Arenas, Director of the Xcacel-Xcacelito turtle sanctuary. This staggering number underscores the site's significance as a vital contributor to the survival of these vulnerable populations. Each nest represents the hope for the next generation of sea turtles, a promise of healthy oceans and thriving biodiversity. The success of these nests, however, hinges on the health of their environment.
The delicate balance of this ecosystem is under constant threat from human activities, and perhaps the most pervasive danger is marine debris composed primarily of household plastics and ghost gear. In this area, our teams find plastics from different countries including Mexico itself, the US, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti, Colombia, Venezuela, Honduras and Guatemala. The ubiquitous presence of plastics in our oceans poses a multitude of threats to marine turtles at every stage of their life cycle. They often mistake plastic bags, balloons and other debris for jellyfish, a crucial part of their diet. Ingesting plastic leads to internal injuries, blockages and starvation. Furthermore, turtles can become entangled in plastic fishing nets, discarded ropes, or six-pack rings, resulting in debilitating injuries, drowning, or even death. Plastic fragments can also accumulate in their digestive systems, hindering their ability to absorb nutrients and hindering their ability to thrive. The persistent accumulation of plastic debris on nesting beaches can also directly impact nesting success, altering the temperature and composition of the sand crucial for the development of embryos.
“Cleaning up Xcacel-Xcacelito is not just about removing trash,” concludes Gerardo Nieto of Tulum Circula, “it’s an act of profound conservation. It’s about safeguarding the future of these magnificent creatures, and by extension, the health of our oceans. By removing plastic debris from the nesting beaches, we’re directly contributing to the success of nesting turtles and securing a future for generations to come.”
HAWAiʻi
Ocean learning, music and marine debris art at the twin fin
In partnership with the Twin Fin Hotel in Waikīkī , Parley Hawai‘i has taken a new approach to educating guests about plastic pollution and steps toward becoming a part of the solution. Hosted by Parley's ever-enthusiastic in-house artist Manny Aloha (@mannyaloha), these weekly events are called Poolside Parleys. It’s like a fireside chat, but poolside. Set up on the pool deck, shaded by a Parley tent, Manny leads a two-hour session consisting of a Parley AIR Talk mixed with local fun facts, music and a marine debris art workshop. Guests create art from marine debris collected from local beaches, which serves as a souvenir and reminder of the global plastic pollution issue. They also leave with the knowledge of the Parley AIR Strategy to apply in their daily lives.
“With every other breath we take coming from the oceans, a solid understanding of the importance of our oceans helps solidify the long-term sustainability of the human race,” explains Manny. “Although these Poolside Parleys are an introduction to this simple fact, we believe for many of these guests, these interactions provide a gateway to the broader understanding of the oceans.”
“Most guests at the Poolside Parleys are not from Hawaiʻi, and in a similar vein, the same is true for the debris washing up on our islands’ shores,” adds Kahi Pacarro of Parley Hawaiʻi. “If we can inspire and empower people to become stewards of our oceans by becoming better consumers, we can create change that will result in less marine debris being created. In the long term, our goal is to have clean beaches around the world. We’ll never get there by just cleaning them, we need to stop the debris at the source.”
If you’re visiting O‘ahu, come join Parley at the Twin Fin Hotel in Waikīkī and sit in on a Poolside Parley Mondays and Thursdays from 2pm – 4pm.
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