The sea turtle nesting season has begun at Chacocente, and the olive ridley arribadas will peak this month. The government ban on all egg harvesting, which we helped bring about, is still being enforced. More turtle egg poaching has occurred at Chacocente this year than last, but the total number of eggs stolen is lower than before the ban. MARENA (Nicaragua’s DNR) has been working hard to control the egg trade. The fight against the El Astillero Resort (a large tourist development planned within the borders of Chacocente Wildlife Refuge) continues. The SCP was part of an effort which led Nicaragua’s Environmental Prosecutor to call a halt to the construction until the environmental impact could be properly assessed. Nonetheless, some land clearing and construction has been continuing. The Santa Teresa Alcaldia (municipal government) is leading the campaign against the resort, but since the resort’s site is in a corner of the Refuge in another municipality, the Santa Teresans have limited power to affect the situation. Besides the issues of closeness to the turtle beach and the bad precedent of resort building within the Refuge, we are concerned about the water question. The resort and golf course would deplete the Rio Escalante and the dry forest’s water table, affecting the area’s wildlife and village wells.