Looking for male sea turtles in Amvrakikos Gulf
The data and knowledge available about the movements of male sea turtles in the Mediterranean is still limited today. ARCHELON has been trying to fill this gap in recent years. This year, the small group of volunteers with Hugo Baron as field leader and Joyce Rapiteau, Leo Cormary, Holly Smith-Baedorf, Eleanor Goodsell as members, managed to place 5 satellite transmitters on adult male turtles found in Amvrakikos Gulf. Τhe movements of the turtles and their migration corridors can now be seen on a map, following the daily signal of the transmitters, the movements of the turtles and their future migrations can now be seen on a map on ARCHELON’s website.
"The transmitters were placed on adults, with a minimum tail length of 25 cm", says Nikoletta Sidiropoulou, marine biologist who is the Project manager for the projects in Amvrakikos Gulf. During this year's program, a total of 299 sea turtles were captured and released within a few minutes, in order to tag them with a special identification mark and record the characteristics of the animals. "The results of the daily and long-term field work of ARCHELON volunteers are fascinating and will contribute to the enhancement of scientific knowledge about the movements and migration of sea turtles", she continues.
The shallow waters of Amvrakikos Gulf in northwestern Greece, are one of the most important feeding grounds for sea turtles in Greece. This valuable ecosystem, which includes wetlands of international importance, hosts not only Loggerheads but also Green turtles.
The first projects of ARCHELON in this site began in 2000 and have continued uninterruptedly since then. Satellite tagging of male sea turtles started in Amvrakikos in 2020, within the framework of the project "Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Mediterranean Region" and continued there in 2021.
One of the surprises of this summer is that, for the third year, we identified 2 turtles which had been tagged in Italy. "This is why international and European legislation exists and transnational cooperation is required in the efforts to conserve migratory animals, such as sea turtles" comments Panagiota Theodorou, Coordinator of Legal and Institutional Issues of ARCHELON, who is responsible for the overall implementation of the project.
The activities of placing satellite transmitters and tagging adult male animals is expected to continue in the spring of 2022. The project "Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Mediterranean Region” is funded by the MAVA Foundation.
Rehabilitation Assistants Needed
Sporadic nests of sea turtles are important
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS02/05/2024
Sea Turtle Festival for Kids 2024
Save the date! On Saturday 18 May at 11:00, the ARCHELON Rescue Centre opens its doors to welcome young and old sea turtle friends who want to celebrate, explore, learn, play and travel magically in the Mediterranean Sea. We are waiting for you to strengthen our message for a better and sustainable planet!
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A successful year for the International Sea Turtle Symposium
The International Sea Turtle Symposium concluded triumphantly this March in Pattaya, Thailand, with ARCHELON actively participating.
- OUR NEWS29/04/2024
A Morning Beach Patrol with ARCHELON
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- OUR NEWS26/04/2024
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The 9th International Conference "Our Ocean", which was held in Athens from April 15 to 17, was successfully completed. ARCHELON had the honor to actively take part in the conference and hosted a side event.
- OUR NEWS12/04/2024
Coordination for the protection of sea turtles in Rethymno: Local authorities and tourism businesses join forces
The meeting, which took place on April 5, 2024, in the building of the Regional Unit of Rethymno, touched upon key issues, such as the observance of conservation measures for the protection of the Loggerhead sea turtle. Given the tourist activity on the nesting beaches, the active participation of the tourism sector in the implementation of the measures is necessary.
- OUR NEWS10/04/2024
"Tourists and turtles?" The environmental awareness campaign of ARCHELON spreads to the nesting beaches of the Loggerhead sea turtle
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- OUR NEWS04/04/2024
LIFE MareNatura - The largest marine biodiversity program in Greece
- OUR NEWS03/04/2024
Citizens inform us of sea turtle strandings
ARCHELON started the effort to record the incidents of dead turtles washing up on the Greek shores in 1992. In recent years there has been an increase in these records which may be due to more of our fellow citizens reporting such incidents. Learn more…
- OUR NEWS19/03/2024
Contributing to international developments on sea turtle research and conservation
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The Over & Above Awards for 2023
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- OUR NEWS04/03/2024
The moving experience of Frederique at the Rescue Centre
At ARCHELON, you'll have the opportunity to meet and work together with new people and form lasting friendships - a major benefit of volunteering.
- OUR NEWS29/02/2024
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- OUR NEWS02/02/2024
Sea turtles in the Greek wetlands of international importance
World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on February 2. These vulnerable areas of the planet are a refuge for migratory birds and other wildlife species, including sea turtles. ARCHELON is present in wetlands that play an important role for sea turtles, such as the Amvrakikos Gulf.
- OUR NEWS24/01/2024
Why are ARCHELON’s projects international?
ARCHELON’s sea turtle conservation projects are organized with the valuable contribution of volunteers who come to Greece every year not just from Europe but from more distant places such as South Korea, Australia, and Colombia. Speaking English while carrying out fieldwork or public awareness activities as well as when interacting with each other in the campsites is essential to the projects.
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ARCHELON has been running a special hospital for sea turtles with tanks and impressive old train wagons for 30 years in Glyfada
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