Meeting of organizations, authorities and businessmen in Rethymno: Crete is preparing for the arrival of the turtles!
On Monday, April 7, we met for another year in the hospitable city of Rethymno to participate in the meeting organized by the Department of Environment and Hydroeconomics of the Regional Unit of Rethymno on the topic of management measures for the protection of the loggerhead sea turtle! The meeting was attended by local bodies, such as the Land Service, the Municipality and the Port Authority of Rethymno, as well as interested entrepreneurs from the tourism and catering sectors operating on the Rethymno coastline.
The attendees were welcomed to the meeting by the Deputy Governor of Rethymno, M. Lioni, with a brief greeting, while the Head of the Department, M. Nikoloudakis, presented the current environmental legislation regarding the management measures for the protection of the sea turtle. The nesting period lasts from May 1 to October 31, with regular inspections already starting from the beginning of May, confirmed Mr. Nikoloudakis.
Then, ARCHELON took the floor to present and explain the measures and good practices that must be followed so that the turtles can nest undisturbed this summer. “An important measure is to remove beach furniture after sunset and store it off the shore,” explains George Vrampas, ARCHELON’s Rethymno Project Manager. “Equally important is to deal with light pollution and disturbances at night,” he added, asking business owners and the municipality to turn off the lights and limit activities that cause noise and vibrations on the beach.
“When the measures are not followed, we have unfortunate results such as the trampling of disoriented hatchlings -an disturbing sight, not only for the sea turtles, but also for the local tourism product,” he concluded, emphasizing the value of respecting nature and the importance of transitioning to sustainable tourism.
The meeting concluded with statements, questions and discussion between the competent services and entrepreneurs.
ARCHELON's participation was carried out with the support of the TUI Care Foundation, within the framework of the "TUI Turtle Aid Greece" programme that is currently underway on the nesting beaches of Rethymno and Chania. "Indeed, this year, the effort to raise awareness among visitors continues with the implementation of informative SEA TURTLE BEACH WALKS with volunteers/researchers who protect the reproduction of turtles in Crete," says Danae Tsaparli, ARCHELON's Chania Project Manager.
We warmly thank the Rethymno Regional Office for this important initiative that is taking place in the region for the 10th consecutive year. We hope that such initiatives will spread to other nesting areas of the country.
Become a Sea Turtle Guardian in Lakonikos Bay
150 satellite tags for the protection of sea turtles
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS14/04/2025
Groundbreaking Study on Microplastic Pollution of Marine Turtle Nesting Beaches
ARCHELON took part in a recent global study that has uncovered alarming levels of microplastic contamination on marine turtle nesting beaches around the world.
- OUR NEWS09/04/2025
Become a Sea Turtle Guardian in Lakonikos Bay
Gracie and Claire, two dedicated individuals who made a significant impact on the sea turtle project of Lakonikos Bay in 2024, talked about their experience.
- OUR NEWS31/03/2025
150 satellite tags for the protection of sea turtles
Since 2002, ARCHELON and its partners have placed 150 satellite and GSM tags on sea turtles monitoring their vast journeys across the Mediterranean!
- OUR NEWS24/03/2025
Become a Guardian of the Night: Volunteer with ARCHELON
On some select beaches, volunteer duties also include night patrols. During the hours when the presence of people on the nesting beaches is prohibited so as not to disturb the turtles, our trained volunteers start their shift, equipped with measuring instruments, research notebooks and red flashlights.
- OUR NEWS14/03/2025
Enriching the lives of rescued sea turtles
A recent study at ARCHELON's Sea Turtle Rescue Centre highlights the importance of environmental enrichment in improving the physical and psychological well-being of rescued sea turtles, aiding their rehabilitation and preparing them for successful release back into the wild.
- OUR NEWS24/02/2025
ARCHELON's Annual General Assembly
According to article 8 of the Statutes of ARCHELON Association, its’ members were invited to attend the Annual General Assembly on Saturday, 22 February 2025.
- OUR NEWS20/02/2025
From the ARCHELON’s Rescue Centre in Egypt!
A sea turtle, previously rehabilitated at the ARCHELON’s Rescue Centre, has once again made headlines, this time internationally. The tagged turtle was discovered weak and injured on an Egyptian beach after the recent rough seas. This incident, as reported by the Egyptian news agency, underscores the ongoing need to protect the fragile Mediterranean marine environment.
- OUR NEWS17/02/2025
ARCHELON's turtle toy travels the country with students and teachers
We would like to warmly thank all the schools that participated in the Online Tours during the 2023-2024 school year and spread the message of sea turtle protection to the ends of the country! The online tours for the current school year have already started.
- OUR NEWS12/02/2025
Online Presentation of Results 2024
Last year, 500 volunteers from all over the world came to help turtles in Greece! What did they achieve? Join us to find out!
- OUR NEWS11/02/2025
Historic Green Sea Turtle Nest Discovered on Rhodes Island, Greece
This species is globally endangered and the recent discovery is particularly significant as it suggests a possible shift in green turtle breeding areas.
- OUR NEWS04/02/2025
Joanne's Lifelong Passion: volunteering at the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre
Joanne's lifelong passion for sea turtles led her to volunteer at the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Greece, where she dedicates her time to educating visitors and contributing to the organization's conservation efforts.
- OUR NEWS02/02/2025
2 years of joint systematic efforts to protect Greece's largest wetland
- OUR NEWS28/01/2025
The ARCHELON Recap for 2024: We kept on fighting for Sea Turtles and the protection of the Oceans
2024 was the year that the recovery of the loggerhead sea turtle breeding population in Kyparissia Bay has been confirmed! This site now hosts the largest breeding population in the Mediterranean, which has been growing steadily in the past years thanks to the consistent long-term nest protection efforts of ARCHELON. It was also the warmest year globally on record when, on the side of our heavy core business workload, we made time to strengthen our commitment to volunteerism and sustainable tourism.
- OUR NEWS20/01/2025
Thank You to our 2024 Field Leaders: The Heart of Sea Turtle Conservation
At ARCHELON, we owe much of our success to the dedication and passion of our Field Leaders. These incredible individuals guide our volunteers throughout their work in the field, ensuring that our mission to protect sea turtles is carried out with precision, care, and enthusiasm.
- OUR NEWS16/01/2025
The sweet side of healing: Why honey is a secret weapon for saving injured sea turtles.
The antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of honey help fight infections in open wounds, a common problem for injured sea turtles.