The ecological stakes could not be higher. Green sea turtles are the literal gardeners of the marine ecosystem. By grazing continuously on seagrass meadows, they stimulate fresh, healthy growth. This upkeep prevents seagrass from becoming overgrown and choked with algae, preserving vital nursery grounds for the very commercial fish stocks that feed the Gambian population.
Despite this, a local conservationist, Ahmed Manjang, said the fishermen continue to kill the golden goose that lays the golden egg.
Between February 2025 and January 2026, Manjang ran a targeted project focusing on turtle bycatch, stranding, and rehabilitation. His data revealed that turtle mortalities and accidental net captures are highest in Brufut and Tanji—the areas with the highest density of commercial fishing activity in the country.
But even in his native Gunjur—where he and his colleagues are involved in conservation measures complemented by rigorous beach patrols and sensitisation—they recorded 29 turtle deaths in under twelve months.
“The demand for turtle eggs and meat remains incredibly high,” said Manjang. “Without these community conservation initiatives, the situation would be catastrophic.”
There are ongoing sensitisation efforts to discourage fishermen and community members from killing sea turtles, but this drive is suffocated, according to Jadama, by a deep-rooted belief that every part of a marine turtle possesses potent medicinal properties.
In June, just about the same time Gambian authorities placed a temporary ban on night fishing, turtles started mating. And because they float on water as they mate, the fishermen can see them. In the absence of active tracking devices on released turtles or scientific studies to understand their population, conservationists could only rely on sightings or net encounters by fishermen.
Salifu Ndure is a fisherman who has worked with conservationists. He participated in the data collection of turtle bycatch led by Manjang. The present efforts, according to Ndure, are paying dividends, but they are sabotaged by overfishing.
“… They (green turtles) are still at sea, and we see them,” said Ndure.
“… The conservation efforts have contributed to saving a lot of them. But the amount of overfishing at sea threatens every marine life.”
A picture of an old hatchery on the Gunjur beach, now swept away by the waves. A similar type is now built some three kilometres from the Turtle Village.
The hope on the horizon
Despite the steep incline, the tide of community sentiment is slowly turning, according to conservationists. Years of door-to-door sensitisation are paying off.
“The community is finally helping us,” Saho said. “They are becoming sensitive to the idea that these creatures must be protected. Now, we receive phone calls from villagers informing us about turtle sightings, strandings, or nests. We ask them to share their GPS locations via their phones, we find the spot, and we protect it.”
The communities grow nearer to the creature through facilities like the Turtle Village, and students visit the turtles to learn about them. And their eco–tourism value brought to the communities new opportunities that might have surpassed the value of the meat or the eggs. And the authorities have recognised the impact of this community-led sensitisation, said Gaye.
A picture capturing the release of green turtles in August 2025 on the Gunjur Beach. The event was witnessed by tourists who were invited by the local activists. @Gunjur Conservationists & Ecotourism Association
The impact of this grassroots movement in Gunjur and Sanyang is already rippling outward. In the nearby village of Tujereng, community activists recently underwent training at the Gunjur turtle village, determined to replicate the hatchery model on their own local beachfront. Lamin Sonko leads the team. He said his team is preparing to begin night patrols starting in July when nesting begins.
Sonko’s community beachfront neighbours Tanji, the largest fish landing site in the country. Activists say there is a strong correlation between higher fishing activity and turtle bycatch.
“I have already started engaging people in my community about turtle conservation. There was a strong pushback at the beginning, but more and more people are beginning to understand the need to protect sea turtles,” said Sonko.
Elsewhere in Sanyang, Omar Sanyang has been active in saving turtles. Like the Turtle Village in Gunjur, they also received funding from the National Environmental Agency to create a pond where they could nurture turtles before release, conduct scientific studies and rehabilitate wounded ones. Like the new pond built in Sanyang, the proximity of the Turtle Village to the ocean allows the turtles to enjoy seawater, which is pumped in fresh water every week using a generator.
For many activists, saving the green turtle can feel like fighting against nature itself. However, long-term conservation efforts are paying off. In October 2025, the world reaped the fruits of the efforts of conservationists. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) updated its Red List of Threatened Species, moving the global status of the green sea turtle from “Endangered” to “Least Concern.”