Tourism is the main source of income for Cape Verde and many tourists wish to see the turtles when they visit. Loggerhead turtles (species Caretta Caretta) nest in the sand dunes on the islands. Sadly, however, the artificial light that emanates from the large tourist resorts threatens the survival of these magnificent creatures. Cape Verde currently has about 15% of the world’s turtle nests. The island of Sal which is, of course, the island that attracts the most tourists, has more than 36,500 nests.
Sal has a number of large tourist resorts on its long sandy beaches. A study carried out in 2025 confirmed that the island presents the biggest conflict between artificial light pollution and the density of turtle nests. Light pollution has been established as a major factor in disorientating the female and young turtles. It leads them away from the sea and therefore reduces their chances of survival. As a result of this study and the concern that it raised, new lighting protocols are being implemented in the large hotels/resorts on the island to reduce the impact of the light pollution. It is hoped that as a result, Sal will retain its status as a safe location for the loggerhead turtles and that it will demonstrate a responsible tourist model that could be replicated elsewhere.
[06 May 2026]
