Rafael Tufiño Printmaking Workshop & Siete Quillas collaboration

Siete Quillas – San Juan Sea Turtle Conservancy is a community-based nonprofit organization certified under Section 1101.01(a) for local tax exemption and Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Authorized by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) since 2014, 7Quillas is deputized to manage endangered sea turtle nesting and habitat restoration on all beaches of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Despite threats such as light pollution, human activity, contamination, and climate change impacts, 7Quillas continues to protect leatherback nests and safely release hatchlings each year. Since 2015, the organization has protected over 210 leatherback nests and saved more than 3,100 hatchlings. Through conservation, education, and community outreach, 7Quillas works to protect endangered species, restore coastal habitats, and strengthen Puerto Rico’s coastal communities.

Hilda Benítez Álvarez, founder and Executive Director of 7 Quillas (San Juan Sea Turtle Conservancy Group), gave a presentation at the Rafael Tufiño Printmaking Workshop. Hilda says, “The leatherback turtles carry their homeland in their chest. They return as adults to the beaches of the region where they were born. Only one in 1,000 survives and reaches adulthood.”

“They emerge with great difficulty from a dark, compact nest three feet deep—this is their first challenge. To survive, they must work as a team. When they emerge, they let themselves be guided by the sound of the ocean waves and slide toward the white foam of the shore. As they crawl, they carry with them latitude, longitude, coordinates, magnetism, temperature, smells, and sounds.”

“Tiny, they enter the sea, reach the reef, and ride the ocean currents that carry them to the North Atlantic, far above, far from their beaches. There they remain for 10 to 15 years, growing to about six feet long, five feet wide, and weighing over 800 pounds.”

“Only then do they return to the homeland that saw them born, the one they carry in their heart.”

Since 2014, we have protected the nests of more than 250 leatherback turtles and released over 3,500 hatchlings across 12 seasons.

The beaches are our stage.
The sky is our backdrop.
The leatherbacks are the actors.
The people are the audience.

And the script—woven with the flags of the Rafael Tufiño Printshop collective from New York City—unites awareness, homeland, and conservation into a single living story.

– Hilda Benítez Álvarez

Raising awareness

Nitza Tufiño and the workshop collective collaborated to help raise awareness for leatherback sea turtles. Under Nitza’s direction, each artist created a 18 x 24 inch image using printmaking techniques, printed on cloth. The works take the form of flags designed to alert the public that newborn turtles are making their journey to the ocean.

The return of the leatherback turtles is deeply symbolic for Puerto Ricans in the diaspora. Nitza explains, “We are like the leatherback turtles. As Boricuas of the diaspora, we leave our homeland of Puerto Rico and journey into the unknown in search of growth and survival. Yet we return to our beloved home to lay down our love and lived experiences, continuing to nurture, support, and protect the island that shaped us.”

– Oliver Rios

8th Puerto Rico Sea Turtle Conservation Symposium 2026

Parque de las Ciencias by Toroverde Eco Parks | Bayamón

Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

About the Symposium

For the first time, Siete Quillas will host the 8th Puerto Rico Sea Turtle Conservation Symposium, bringing together sea turtle conservation groups from Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra, along with scientists, educators, government officials, students, and community members.

The symposium will feature a keynote address by Dr. Maritza Barreto Orta, geological oceanographer and coastal erosion expert at the University of Puerto Rico, followed by an expert panel discussing climate change, coastal ecosystems, and conservation strategies. Panelists include Dr. Antonio Mignucci, Dr. Robert Mayer, Mr. Carlos Diez, Mr. Ernesto Morales, and Deborah Martorell, who will also serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Approximately 150 participants are expected.

Conservation Festival

At the same time, the Sea Turtle and Puerto Rican Wildlife Conservation Festival will take place in the outdoor plaza. This interactive environmental fair will allow students to earn required green hours while learning about Puerto Rico’s wildlife and ecosystems, including sea turtles, coquí frogs, coral reefs, wetlands, forests, estuaries, manatees, birds, and more.

Why It Matters

The symposium strengthens collaboration among conservation groups, scientists, government agencies, and communities while providing training in:

• Sea turtle and marine species management
• Response to strandings and habitat impacts
• Coastal erosion, storm surges, and dune restoration
• Climate and weather interpretation

Support the Mission

Siete Quillas is a volunteer-run nonprofit, and all donations are 100% tax-deductible. Sponsorships help train conservation volunteers, expand environmental education, and protect nesting beaches across Puerto Rico.

Answer the call from the sea — help protect our sea turtles and coastal ecosystems.