Residents of Boca de Tomates say someone has been slaughtering sea turtles on the beach—and they’ve taken it to PROFEPA. The complaint follows a wave of videos and photos shared locally, and it lands just a week after Hurricane Priscilla wiped out thousands of eggs at the turtle camp. Killing or trafficking sea turtles in Mexico is a federal crime with prison time, but will that matter here? Authorities now face mounting pressure to investigate fast—and to show results before the season ends.
Locals in Puerto Vallarta have filed an environmental complaint with PROFEPA after reports and images surfaced alleging the killing of olive ridley sea turtles at Boca de Tomates. Residents and vendors say the violence has been happening repeatedly, and they want federal inspectors on the sand now.
Boca de Tomates turtles
The complaint arrives amid a flurry of posts and news items showing dead turtles and claims of a “systematic” slaughter near the beach palapas. Local outlets reported that PROFEPA has received the denuncia and that the Municipal Sustainability office is aware. PROFEPA has not issued a formal bulletin yet, but its mandate is clear: sea turtles are federally protected, and any killing or trafficking is a crime.
Under Article 420 of Mexico’s Federal Penal Code, capturing, killing, or possessing parts or products of any sea turtle can bring one to nine years in prison and substantial fines. PROFEPA’s own guidance echoes those penalties and notes higher punishment when acts are for commercial gain or occur in protected areas. In short, there is real prison time on the table if these allegations are proven.
The timing deepens the wound. Just last week, Hurricane Priscilla’s powerful surf destroyed an estimated 300 nests—nearly 30,000 eggs—at the Boca de Tomates turtle camp, a volunteer-run operation that has long guarded olive ridley nests and staged public releases. Losing a generation of hatchlings to weather and then facing reports of adult killings is a one-two punch for a species that needs every breeder.
What happens next
Expect pressure for a quick, visible response. During nesting peaks, Boca de Tomates is busy at night, and poaching complaints are not new in the region. Federal law leaves little ambiguity: sea turtle exploitation has been illegal nationwide since the 1990s, and authorities regularly remind the public that even possessing eggs is a crime. If inspectors corroborate the reports, the case should move to federal prosecutors.
For residents and conservationists, the ask is practical—more patrols at night. Checks on seafood stands for illegal meat—fast coordination between PROFEPA, municipal police, and the Jalisco prosecutor when tips arrive. The community has already completed the first part—documenting, reporting, and demanding an investigation. Now it’s up to the authorities to show up and enforce the law while Boca de Tomates turtles are still coming ashore.
