Social media posts help shed light on the impacts of “turtle spotting” in Laganas bay, Zakynthos
The island of Zakynthos has become a major international tourist destination, receiving hundreds of thousands of holiday makers per year. Every summer, a large number of tourists typically observe sea turtles either from a boat, usually by organized boat tours or by snorkeling in the blue waters of Laganas bay.
Two ARCHELON members - Kostas Papafitsoros and Aliki Panagopoulou- along with Gail Schofield are the authors of an innovative scientific study shedding light in tourist and sea turtle interactions in Laganas bay, which was published in the journal Animal Conservation as open access article last month.
The study examined more than 3500 social media photos and videos of loggerhead sea turtles taken in Laganas bay during 2018 and 2019. The team used photo-identification techniques to quantify how much and how often each individual loggerhead was photographed by people on boats and by snorkelers. It was thus possible to obtain entries of 139 unique turtles in a total of 1684 viewings in 2018 and 122 unique turtles in 2105 viewings in 2019 (boats and underwater viewings combined).
The study also showed evidence of carapace damage by boats on 9 out of the 54 “resident” turtles viewed in 2018 and 2019. One of them, the male loggerhead which was found to be the most photographed turtle by people on boats in both years, was the one that ended up fatally injured in 26 July 2019 by boat propeller, possibly during “turtle spotting” activities.
The authors point to the need of further studies but also to a stricter enforcement of the 6 knot speed limit that currently exists in the bay. They also suggest that the use of propeller guards should be made compulsory to all the boats used for turtle spotting in Laganas Bay.
Concerns about the impacts of the ever increasing “turtle spotting” pressure in Laganas Bay have been raised consistently by ARCHELON and MEDASSET during the last years. Clearly there is more to be said and done to improve sea turtle conservation in this area.
Read or download the publication in our page here.
Check out the on line publication and supporting material.
A collaboration with the University of Patras
A tech-jewel from reused materials
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS29/08/2025
Turtle Run in Chania: Lace up your running shoes and get ready!
September 7th, Chania: Join the event and support the protection of one of the most iconic marine species in the Mediterranean.
- OUR NEWS27/08/2025
Citizens Help us Map Sea Turtle Sporadic Nesting in the Ionian Sea
This study is particularly important as it highlights the power of citizen science. Public eyes on beaches, outreach through online platforms and new reporting tools are expanding our understanding of turtle nesting beyond the beaches we monitor.
- OUR NEWS20/08/2025
A nesting turtle brings hope amidst a night of fire
After a 12-hour period filled with fear and uncertainty, the family witnessed a miracle of nature. “It brought us peace and reminded us of what is important”.
- OUR NEWS14/08/2025
ARCHELON’s Life-Saving Chain with the Support of the Green Fund
Thanks to persistence, medication, daily care, and a great deal of patience, “Snowball” gradually moved from a critical state to full recovery.
- OUR NEWS31/07/2025
ATTENTION! Please do not feed sea turtles – They are not pets- Protect them from human induced impacts
ARCHELON informs that the phenomenon of feeding sea turtles by people in coastal areas, ports and tourist spots has been observed in recent years. Despite good intentions, this practice causes serious problems – for turtles and for people alike.
- OUR NEWS25/07/2025
New Info Station in Kyparissia Opens for LIFE MareNatura Project
Located at the beachfront of the town, the Info Station operates daily 18:30 - 21:00.
- OUR NEWS21/07/2025
Public Excavations of Sea Turtle Nests in Crete
The excavations are open for both kids and adults and take place on the nesting beaches of Rethymno, Chania, and the Messara Bay during the months of August and September.
- OUR NEWS21/07/2025
Public Excavations of Sea Turtle Nests in the Peloponnese
The excavations are open for both kids and adults and take place on the nesting beaches of Kyparissia Bay, Romanos, Koroni and Lakonikos Bay during the months of August and September.
- OUR NEWS16/07/2025
Earlier than ever before was the start of the 2025 Hatching Season of Loggerheads in Greece – The first hatchlings have reached the sea!
We are excited to announce the beginning of the 2025 sea turtle hatching season, with the earliest hatching event ever recorded since monitoring began in 1984.
- OUR NEWS15/07/2025
Important presentations at the 16th International Congress on the Zoogeography and Ecology of Greece and Adjacent Regions (ICZEGAR)
ARCHELON actively contributed to the Congress with three oral presentations, highlighting key aspects of its scientific and conservation work for sea turtles.
- OUR NEWS09/07/2025
Inspections in Zakynthos and Kyparissia by representatives of the Bern Convention
The experts were in Greece to monitor the implementation of the Recommendations adopted by the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention to our country regarding the protection of the Loggerhead sea turtle and the ongoing threats faced by the species in its largest breeding habitats in the Mediterranean.
- OUR NEWS02/07/2025
Citizen Science: Recording of Sporadic Nesting of Sea turtles across the Aegean
For over four decades, many people have been reporting turtle sightings and tracks across the Greek coastline. Thanks to them, we have confirmed 577 unique nesting events outside our regularly monitored areas
- OUR NEWS01/07/2025
Satellite Tagging Completed and Captured on Film in Crete
ARCHELON has just successfully completed the 2025 deployment of satellite transmitters on Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) in Crete, as part of the ongoing LIFE MareNatura Project. This year’s work in Crete was extra special: the LIFE MareNatura Documentary team joined us in the field!
- OUR NEWS23/06/2025
Enjoy the Beaches Responsibly: Together We Protect the Sea Turtles of Kyparissia Bay!
So far, more than 2,000 nests have been recorded in the area. In order to best manage the protected beaches, we have adapted our field work protocols.
- OUR NEWS16/06/2025
World Sea Turtle Day: We can all live together!
Today, June 16th, we celebrate World Sea Turtle Day. On this occasion, ARCHELON expresses its warmest thanks to all citizens, volunteers, donors and supporters who actively contribute to our work.