Cayman Turtle Centre

Cayman Turtle Centre: Island Wildlife Encounter (formerly Boatswain's Beach)
Sign at the entrance to the Cayman Turtle Centre
Type	Aquatic nature park
Location	West Bay district, Grand Cayman Island
Coordinates	19°22′48″N 81°24′59″W / 19.380097°N 81.416398°W / 19.380097; -81.416398
Area	23 acres
Established	1968
Founder	Mariculture Limited
Operated by	Cayman Islands government
Visitors	500,000+ annually
Status	In operation
Collections	Green sea turtle, Kemp's ridley sea turtle
Website	www.turtle.ky

The Cayman Turtle Centre^[1] is a conservation facility and tourist attraction located in the district of West Bay in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. First established in 1968 as "Mariculture Ltd" and later called "Cayman Turtle Farm" by a group of American and British investors, the facility was initially used to breed the endangered green sea turtle for commercial purposes. By raising the turtles in a farming operation, the turtle meat could be produced for local consumption without depleting the wild population of the species.

Although still in operation as a farm for raising turtles in order to sell product, the Cayman Turtle Centre has been developed into an important research project and conservation facility. It is now also the largest land-based tourist attraction in the Cayman Islands and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors annually.^[2]