Wamukota says his organization works with a number of groups along the coast to educate communities and tourists about the importance of conserving turtles and protecting the wider coastal environment.

The Watamu Turtle Watch rescues turtles that are caught in fishermen's nets. Club official Nelly Kadagi explains. "With our turtle release program, it is a compensation-based program where when the fishermen give us a call to go and rescue a turtle, we check the biometric measurements, tag the turtle, and compensate the fishermen for the time and effort they have taken to save these turtles and call us," she said.

Kadagi says her organization has released more than 5,000 turtles back into the ocean since the group started 10 years ago. It also runs a rehabilitation center to treat injured or sick turtles. In addition, it teaches fishermen and others why it is important to conserve turtles.

"Each species of turtle plays a very vital role in the whole ecosystem functioning," said Kadagi. "For example, green turtles feed on sea grass, so they bring the balance between the sea grass ecosystem and also the other species that are existing in the sea grass ecosystem. The leatherback turtles feed on jellyfish so they bring the balance - if they (leatherback turtles) are not there, it means there will be a jellyfish explosion and that will not be good for the whole functioning of the marine environment."

Coastal development and pollution also threaten the turtles' survival. Hotels and other structures built too close to the water prevent female turtles from nesting. Baby turtles hatching at night head to buildings' bright lights rather than the ocean, dying in the process.