The Tamar Project and turtle conservation

Published on November 30, 2012 · Updated on April 6, 2025

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The Tamar Project was founded in 1980 by Brazilian researchers concerned about the conservation of sea turtles that were threatened with extinction off the coast of Brazil. The name “Tamar” comes from the combination of the words TArtaruga MARinha.

The initiative began under the coordination of the then Brazilian Institute for Forest Development (IBDF), an organisation that later became IBAMA (Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) and is now associated with ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation).

Projeto Tamar na praia do Forte — Tamar project at Praia do Forte

Praia do Forte, in the municipality of Mata de São João, Bahia, was chosen as the project’s national headquarters because it is one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in Brazil.

In 1988, the Pró-Tamar Foundation was created, a support organisation that works alongside the government to facilitate research, environmental education and community development.

Today, the Tamar Project is one of the world’s greatest examples of marine conservation, with 21 bases spread over more than 1,100 kilometres of Brazilian coastline, protecting not only turtles but also sharks, rays, corals and other marine life, always involving local communities as partners in conservation.

See 5 species of sea turtles found in Brazil.

Videos about the Tamar Project

Projeto Tamar na Praia do Forte04:47

Projeto Tamar - Tartarugas08:41

What is Projeto Tamar?

It is the national headquarters of the Brazilian Sea Turtle Conservation Project, active since 1980. Praia do Forte is one of the most important nesting and feeding sites in the country.

Why visit?

Get up close to live sea turtles in observation tanks.
Learn about Brazil’s marine fauna with interactive exhibits.
Discover the work of research, environmental education and involvement with local communities.
Ideal for the whole family, with a focus on children and educational tourism.
Service in Portuguese, English, Spanish and Italian.

What you’ll find there

Tanks with turtles of different species and sizes
Educational trails and information panels
Gift shop and local handicrafts
Cultural activities and special events throughout the year
Contact with nature and ecotourism experiences

Useful information

Schedule: Check the official website for up-to-date days and times
Tickets: A symbolic amount to help maintain the project
Accessibility: The venue is adapted for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility.

Location

Where it is: Vila dos Pescadores, Praia do Forte – Mata de São João (BA).

How to get there: It’s about 80 kilometres from Salvador on the Green Line (BA-099).

Map: Next to the Garcia D’Ávila lighthouse, at the entrance to the village.

Tourist tip

Visit between November and March, the turtle nesting season. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the eggs hatch and the hatchlings released into the sea – an unforgettable moment!

Written by Willy Sievert

Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →