All these species have seen depleting their population due to over-harvesting to the point that hawksbill and leatherback are considered Critically Endangered and green and loggerhead are considered Endangered by IUCN. The four species of marine turtles occur in Jardines de la Reina, though hawksbill and green are the most common ones, primarily the hawksbill. Jardines de la Reina is the most important nesting are for hawksbill in Cuban waters with 65 % of the reported nationwide. It is known that most of hawksbill turtles spend most of their life cycle in Cuban waters.
Hawksbills nest year around, mainly from September to January with the high rate between October and December, later than in other Western Atlantic areas. Hawksbills prefer to nest in the vegetated zone closest to shoreline. Green turtles use Jardines de la Reina as reproductive and feeding grounds but also as migratory corridors. Green turtles of Jardines de la Reina are strongly connected with Grand Cayman population.