Cayman Turtle Centre Announces Exciting Pirates Week Events and Milestone Turtle Release

The Cayman Turtle Conservation and Education Centre (CTCEC) is thrilled to announce its upcoming festivities in collaboration with the Pirates Week committee, featuring exciting events for families and conservation enthusiasts alike.

On Friday 7th November at 10a.m., CTCEC will host its annual Pirates Week Turtle Release at Governor’s Beach, where healthy, head-started Green Sea turtles—raised at the Centre to ensure optimal survival—will be released into the wild. This event not only celebrates Cayman’s heritage but also highlights CTCEC’s dedication to restoring turtle populations.

Then on Sunday 9th November, CTCEC will open its doors at 8:00 AM for the Pirates Week Family Fun Day, with added activities kicking off at 11:00 AM. This lively event will feature:

• Face painting
• Treasure Hunt
• Spin-the-wheel prizes
• Foam party
• Pirate bouncing castle
• Pool Volleyball
• Live DJ
• And more!

Local children dressed as pirates will receive free entry, and we encourage families to join us for a fun-filled day celebrating Cayman culture and conservation.

As of September 2025, CTCEC has proudly released over 37,000 Green Sea turtles into the wild. This milestone reflects the Centre’s ongoing commitment to restoring turtle populations in the Cayman Islands.

“We are incredibly proud and honored to do the work that we do,” said Tiffany Dixon-Ebanks, CTCEC’s Chief Marketing and Merchandising Officer. “We would like to thank everyone who continues to support us year-round, and for the upcoming turtle release, I extend gratitude to our Supporting Sponsors Pepsi, Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC) and Ernst & Young Cayman Islands (EY).”

Past scientific research and report spearheaded by the University of Barcelona, titled “How many turtles came home” showed that over 90% of wild green sea turtles nesting on Grand Cayman are genetically related to turtles released by the Centre. That said, CTCEC continues to engage and make impact with its conservation efforts today.  Public releases like the once on November 7th serve as powerful educational opportunities, raising awareness about the threats turtles face—including habitat loss, illegal poaching, ocean plastic pollution, and the importance of turtle-friendly lighting. These vital efforts can only continue with the generous support of our sponsors, whose contributions help sustain our mission to protect and restore turtle populations in the Cayman Islands.