Sukamade Beach

97 km to the southwest of Banyuwangi is a tourist beach located in the intensive utilization zone. The beach is potential for ecotourism activities, because tourists can directly watch the behavior of the protected turtles landing on the beach after sailing the ocean and landing to find a place to lay eggs. Of the 8 species of turtles in Indonesia, 4 species of sea turtles land on Sukamade beach namely Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Slengkrah Turtle, and Leatherback Turtle. All species are protected animals. A tour to watch turtles laying eggs are usually done in the evening, because turtles lay their eggs at night. The step-by-step-process takes 3-4 hours with the phases: turtles stop for a moment on the beach (sea water border), walk up to the beach to feel secure, dig a hole for the body and a hole for eggs, lay eggs, close the hole for body and eggs hole, making and artificial nest and ultimately go back to the sea. Turtle nesting months are from November to March. Meru Betiri National Park closely watches this Sukamade coastal region for turtles survival. A turtle breeding is also found in Ngagelan.