Clean beaches, safe turtles: Our guide to responsible action

02/06/2026

See the beach not only as a place for swimming and relaxation, but also as a fragile ecosystem where people and nature must coexist with respect. Along the approximately 100 kilometers of beaches monitored by ARCHELON in Greece, a natural maternity hospital for the Loggerhead sea turtle operates continuously throughout the summer.

Female turtles return to these vital nesting grounds to lay their eggs in the sand, and a few months later, the hatchlings begin one of nature’s most challenging journeys: their journey to the sea. The way we choose to remove litter from the beach can make the difference between life and death for the next generation of sea turtles. By protecting their nesting habitat and cleaning beaches responsibly, we help ensure that these remarkable animals continue their life cycle for generations to come.

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The recommendations that ARCHELON has been providing for years to municipalities and coastal businesses regarding the cleaning of nesting beaches are now reinforced by the new Guide to Good Practices for Coastal and Beach Cleaning issued by NECCA, Greece’s competent authority for protected areas.

See below the simple but crucial rules that must be followed:

The critical period: From May to October, turtles come to the shore to nest. Two months later, the young emerge and make their first journey to the waves. During this time, our intervention should be minimal.
Cleaning only by hand: Forget about heavy machinery and rakes that plow the shore. Proper cleaning is done exclusively by hand. Why not machines? Sand hides nests. A heavy vehicle can destroy eggs or compress the sand so much that thehatchlings get trapped and cannot come to the surface.
Preserve the tracks: Even a simple “combing” of the sand erases the turtle tracks that help ARCHELON locate and protect nests.
“Dry seaweed” is the shield of the coast: What we often think of as dirt is actually the Posidonia seagrass, a natural treasure. They help to retain sand and protect the beach against erosion. Removing them mechanically essentially removes a piece of the beach’s natural defenses.
No cigarette butts and litter on the coasts: With simple, correct practices we can have clean beaches for everyone and at the same time ensure that nature continues its cycle without obstacles.

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Are you in the western Peloponnese? Take action!

On the occasion of World Environment Day, we invite you to participate in the beach cleanup organized by ARCHELON at the nesting beach in Kalo Nero, Messinia.

Friday June 5th, 18:00
Meeting point: ARCHELON Information Station in Kalo Nero (In front of Messina Resort Hotel)

Together we can make a difference!

Celebrating World Environment Day with Sea Turtles in Rethymno

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