Record Nesting of Sea Turtles in Greece

Conservationists are celebrating a remarkable resurgence of the Caretta caretta sea turtle in Greece, particularly on Zakynthos’ Sekania beach, which is renowned as a prime nesting ground. After 25 years of conservation efforts, record numbers of nests and hatchlings have been reported.

This year, more than 1,200 nests were recorded on Sekania, equating to one nest every 50 cm of beach. The Mediterranean has seen an overall increase in nesting, with Greece hosting 60% of Caretta caretta nests, rising from 5,000-7,000 annually to over 10,000 since 2023.

Dr. Aliki Panagopoulou from Archelon, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, attributes this success to decades of dedicated conservation, which have turned around a previously declining trend. In the past, the turtles faced numerous threats from tourism, speedboats, and human activity, prompting advocates like Lily Venizelos, who founded Medasset in the 1980s, to lobby for protective legislation.

However, despite the positive developments, conservationists warn against complacency. Issues like climate change, pollution, and overfishing still pose significant risks. 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/sep/28/its-hugely-moving-record-numbers-of-sea-turtle-nests-recorded-in-greece

Author: Sylvia Jacobs

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