For two decades, ARCHELON has been a tireless guardian of sea turtles in Amvrakikos Gulf. Nestled in the west side of the Greek mainland, this unique semi enclosed marine ecosystem and Ramsar wetland site, is home to a diverse array of marine life, including endangered loggerheads and green sea turtles. ARCHELON's unwavering commitment to conservation is making an important impact on the survival of these ancient creatures in the Mediterranean.

A Haven for Sea Turtles

Amvrakikos Gulf offers a critical habitat for loggerhead and green sea turtles in the Mediterranean, providing feeding and wintering areas. ARCHELON it studying the population structure and growth of the turtles found in the area, by using capture / recapture techniques. The aim is to also investigate the impact of threats such as pollution, accidental entanglement in fishing gear, and climate change and integrate the findings into conservation actions. Since 2023, ARCHELON has been a dedicated member of the Amvrakikos Alliance, who tirelessly collaborate with various stakeholders to promote the conservation and sustainable management of this unique ecosystem.

ARCHELON volunteers in the Amvrakikos Project were particularly busy during the summer of 2024. They identified 180 individual sea turtles, which were captured, measured and released during a few minutes, in a total of 283 captures. “It was great to also spot two of the turtles which carried satellite tags installed by ARCHELON in previous years,” said Carola Manzoni, the field leader of the Amvrakikos project. One of them, the turtle named ‘Vathos’, has been a familiar sight in Amvrakikos since 2020, consistently shown to be swimming within the area of the gulf (See the map)

The team also played a vital role in rescuing two injured sea turtles, ‘Elsa’ and ‘Wasabi’, who were brought to the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Glyfada Attikis, near Athens, for rehabilitation.

Thanos Michailidis, the Project Manager of Amvrakikos, is happy with the project's outcomes. "I am grateful to the volunteers of the Amvrakikos project for their dedicated work in collecting population data and rescuing the injured animals. Special thanks are due to Carola Manzoni, for her exceptional leadership and dedication.The data collected will inform future conservation efforts and help ensure the long-term protection of sea turtles in this important ecosystem”, he stated.

If you're interested in joining the Amvrakikos team in 2025, we encourage you to apply now, since the number of volunteer places is limited. Learn more about the Project of Amvrakikos.