Assessment of sea turtle nesting beaches reveals that most sites are under significant pressure

WWF Greece and ARCHELON have carried out a comprehensive assessment of the nesting beaches of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) across Greece. The assessment was conducted during 2024–2025 as part of the Greek Wildlife Alliance, a joint initiative of eleven environmental organizations aimed at ensuring the effective protection of Greece's iconic wildlife species.

The initiative sought to document and highlight the impacts and cumulative pressures these beaches face from human activities. The findings will support the design and implementation of appropriate local and national management measures to improve the condition of nesting beaches and strengthen protection of the species. The assessment was made possible through the valuable contribution of hundreds of citizen volunteers, alongside expert scientists with extensive knowledge of sea turtle biology and ecology.

Greece plays a pivotal role in the conservation of this iconic species, hosting approximately 50% of all Loggerhead nests in the Mediterranean. Two areas are of particular importance: Laganas Bay on Zakynthos and the Southern Kyparissia Bay, which together account for more than 60% of all Loggerhead nests within the European Union. Given the exceptional importance of Greece's coastline for the species' reproduction, regular monitoring and systematic assessment of these nesting habitats are essential.

Most nesting beaches face significant pressures – Proposed management measures

The project focused on assessing the overall condition of nesting beaches, identifying both natural and human-induced pressures, and documenting key factors that may affect nesting and egg-laying, such as tourism activities and light pollution. Field surveys were carried out over two consecutive nesting seasons (2024–2025), from May to October, with the participation of more than 120 active citizens and volunteers. In total, 167 nesting beaches were assessed across Greece, covering approximately 270 kilometres of coastline. The survey included beaches in the Ionian Islands, Crete, the Peloponnese, Epirus and the Dodecanese, with particular emphasis on protected areas within the Natura 2000 network.

The results reveal that Greece's loggerhead turtle nesting beaches are exposed to a wide range of pressures. Most nesting beaches are affected by multiple human-induced impacts, ranging from moderate disturbance to severe degradation of the natural environment. Tourism-related activities emerged as one of the most significant sources of pressure, with the most common interventions including hotels, beach bars and restaurants. Specifically:

• 77% of the beaches contained beach furniture (such as umbrellas and sunbeds), which can hinder nesting.
• 71% of the beaches had nighttime light pollution.
• 68% of the beaches had intense human presence during night time, when turtles typically come ashore to nest.

The overall assessment, based on all indicators included in the evaluation protocol, showed that only 12% of nesting beaches are in good conservation condition, 50% were classified as being in moderate condition and 38% were assessed as being of poor quality. These findings underline the urgent need to strengthen the protection and management of nesting beaches.

A comparison between beaches located inside and outside the Natura 2000 network showed that protected areas have a significantly higher proportion of beaches in good condition (19% inside Natura 2000 compared with just 5% outside). This demonstrates that protected status has a positive effect, although it does not eliminate the pressures that persist, particularly where effective management is lacking. Based on the findings, WWF Greece and ARCHELON recommend a range of measures to improve both beach management and the broader legal and administrative framework for species protection, including:

• Full implementation of the National Action Plan for the sea turtle (Caretta caretta).
• Maintaining a 5-metre buffer zone from the waterline to ensure turtles have sufficient space to emerge from the sea and build nests.
• Requiring beach equipment (umbrellas, sunbeds and sports equipment) to be removed during nighttime hours.
• Removing illegal or unauthorized structures that degrade the natural beach environment.
• Raising awareness among beach visitors and strengthening cooperation with tourism businesses.
• Enhancing monitoring and enforcement of protection measures by the competent authorities.

Through coordinated action by public authorities, local communities and conservation organizations, Greece's beaches can continue to provide safe nesting habitats for the loggerhead sea turtle, an iconic species and a vital part of the Mediterranean's natural heritage.

Με συντονισμένη δράση αρμόδιων αρχών, τοπικών κοινωνιών και φορέων προστασίας της φύσης, οι ελληνικές παραλίες μπορούν και στο μέλλον να συνεχίσουν να αποτελούν ασφαλή καταφύγια αναπαραγωγής της Caretta caretta, ενός εμβληματικού είδους και πολύτιμου κομματιού της φυσικής κληρονομιάς της Μεσογείου.

The Wildlife Alliance is a collaborative initiative of 11 environmental non-governmental organizations, working together to increase the impact of their conservation efforts through a shared vision for the wellbeing of both wildlife and people.

The results of the nesting beach assessment are available HERE