Authorities from the Honduran Ministry of Natural Resources set up a ban a month ago to protect the sea turtle species that nest around the Gulf of Fonseca, a maritime area shared by Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. Marcio Castellón, of the ministry's fishing and aquaculture division, told Tierramérica that the ban on the sales and commercialization of the turtles and their eggs would last three months, the time needed for the turtles lay their eggs on the Gulf's beaches, and the baby turtles to hatch and reach the sea.

Already, 72 nests have been protected, for a total of 6,400 sea turtles, which will be released from mid-October through November, he said.

Four sea turtle species — all endangered — can be found in the Gulf of Fonseca: leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles.