Sea turtle nesting has begun in Greece: learn what to look out for!
Greece hosts the most important nesting beaches for the loggerhead turtle in the Mediterranean. The first nests for 2025 have already been located and protected at Laganas beach in Zakynthos, Elaia beach in Kyparissia Bay of western Peloponnese and Pachia Ammos beach in Messara Bay of southern Crete!
Every summer, ARCHELON monitors almost 100 km. of nesting beaches, recording and protecting loggerhead nests in Zakynthos, in Kyparissia Bay, Koroni, Lakonikos Bay in Peloponnese, in Chania, Rethymno and Messara Bay in Crete.
If you happen to visit one of these beaches, follow these instructions:
- Remove umbrellas, sun loungers and any other beach furniture after sunset.
- Turn off or cover lights visible from the beach and avoid staying on the beach at night.
- Do not light fires at night on the beach
- Do not dig up nests. Sea turtles, nests, eggs and hatchlings are protected by Greek law and international conventions.
- Do not move nest markings, protective cages over nests or special walkways for hatchlings.
- Avoid driving vehicles on the beach.
- Avoid driving a speedboat at high speed near the nesting beach.
Most sea turtles return to lay their eggs on the beaches where they were born. However, there are some females that, during their travels, nest on coasts that are unknown to us. These “sporadic nests” can appear anywhere in Greece, and we need your help to record them!
The study of the occurrence of sporadic nests sheds light on the movements of sea turtles. These data are taken into account in the study of sea turtle populations. ARCHELON encourages all citizens who care about nature and the environment to be observant and contribute to the protection of wildlife by reporting tracks, hatchlings and possible nests.
If you find a turtle laying eggs, sea turtle tracks, or an unprotected nest, follow these steps:
- Do not disturb the turtle: Loud sounds, photos, and lights can scare it. Do not disturb the nest: Leave it exactly as you found it.
- Mark the location: Use landmarks or GPS coordinates to locate the nest.
- Take a few photos of the tracks or potential nest (after the turtle has returned to the water).
- Report the nest to ARCHELON: Complete the online Sporadic Nest Recording Form. This user-friendly platform allows you to quickly submit information about the nest location, date, and any observations you may have.
If you find an injured sea turtle, contact ARCHELON's 24-hour rescue line 6941 511 511.
Let's all help protect the sea, the coasts and the sea turtles this summer! We can live together, this has been ARCHELON's motto since 1983!
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