02/06/2025

Sea Turtles Return to Crete: A Shared Victory for Nature and Sustainable Travel

The loggerhead nesting season has “officially’ begun onnon-profitwell-known Crete, with sea turtle nests occurrence confirmed in all three of ARCHELON’s project areas: Rethymno, Messara, and Chania. These first nests mark the start to a challenging season where the commitment of  beach users and hotel owners to protecting the loggerhead sea turtles will be put to the test.

The first sea turtle nests protected by ARCHELON in Rethymno, Chania and Messara

The return of the adult female turtles to lay their eggs on these unique beaches of Crete is a reminder of the island’s ecological importance and the delicate balance between natural preservation and tourism. Through a growing network of volunteers, researchers, local businesses, and international partners, ARCHELON, a well known, non profit environmental NGO, is not only safeguarding the nesting sites but also building awareness about the role each of us plays in preserving them.

One of the main initiatives supporting ARCHELON’s work on the beaches of northern Crete in 2025 is the TUI Turtle Aid Greece project, carried out in collaboration with the TUI Care Foundation. This partnership reflects a coordinated approach to destination management, bringing together conservation teams, hotel staff, local communities, and tourists to help protect the beaches where sea turtles nest. By involving everyone, the project promotes shared responsibility and shows how different groups can successfully work together to care for a destination.

Photos of ARCHELON and TUI care foundation

With nests already recorded and protected, the work now continues on the monitoring beaches, informing the public, and helping hatchlings safely reach the sea in the months ahead. Every protected nest is a small triumph, and together, they represent a broader success: a model of tourism that respects and protects the natural world.

Learn more about the TUI Turtle Aid Project: https://archelon.gr/en/what-we-do/projects-and-collaborations

RECENT NEWS

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    16/07/2025

    Earlier than ever before was the start of the 2025 Hatching Season of Loggerheads in Greece – The first hatchlings have reached the sea!

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  2. OUR NEWS
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  4. OUR NEWS
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  7. OUR NEWS
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  8. OUR NEWS
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  9. OUR NEWS
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  10. OUR NEWS
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    World Environment Day: Keeping Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches Safe from Plastics and Bulldozers

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  11. OUR NEWS
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    Amvrakikos Project 2025: Special Call for a Field Leader

    ARCHELON is looking for a highly motivated person to lead its project in Amvrakikos Gulf, one of the few foraging sites for loggerhead turtles in Greece linking several populations nesting across the Mediterranean region.

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  12. OUR NEWS
    22/05/2025

    Sea turtle nesting has begun in Greece: learn what to look out for!

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  14. OUR NEWS
    15/05/2025

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  15. OUR NEWS
    07/05/2025

    Discover the secret nature of Crete: Sea Turtle Beach Walk with ARCHELON

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