The Cretan hospitality has welcomed the first nest of 2017
After a long waiting, restless efforts and patience the researchers of ARCHELON in Rethymno, recorded on 4 June in the morning, the first nest of 2017 in Crete, in the region Sfakaki.
The daily life of the association’s volunteers includes an early awakening in the morning to check and record the nesting beaches natural state and to find traces of sea turtles that will lead them to their nests. During a process that may last plenty of hours, the volunteers having lots of patience and love towards that rare species, that continues to visit the island of Crete, stay at the beach until they detect and protect the nests.
The first nest was located in Rethymno on a beach in the region Sfakaki. Due to the expand erosion of the ground, the beach has shrunk and there is not the required safe space for the nests. Therefore, the researchers have to relocate them to more secure spots, in order not to be ruined by the wave.
The Cretan sea turtles prove to us for another year, that they are the most ancient visitors of the island, honoring it with their presence. We hope and wish the Cretan hospitality, that is famous all around the world, continues to welcome the sea turtles and that keeps protecting and preserving the natural habitat, by just applying the simple protection measures that ARCHELON suggests. The protection measures refer not only to the specie but also to the nesting beaches. Those very important beaches are visited by a large number of tourists every year, for the exact same reasons that the sea turtles do. For the quality of the beaches, for their sandy landscape and the good climate. The volunteers of ARCHELON, who are located on three nesting beaches in Crete, the gulf of Rethymno, the gulf of Chania and the gulf of Messara, wish you a great summer and wait to inform you and make you daydream with their stories about the island of Crete and the “Cretan” sea turtles.
You can find the volunteers of ARCHELON, daily at the informative spots of our association, at the Venetian Port of Rethymno, the old port of Chania and at the entrance of Matala beach. They may also be found, daily from 05:00 in the morning, at the beaches of three regions (from Delphini to Skaleta in the gulf of Rethymno, from Kato Stallo to Kolympari in the gulf of Chania and from Chomo to Kokkinos Pyrgos in the gulf of Messara).
Information: Nikolopoulou Athanasia, ACHELON Crete Program Coordinator, tel.: +30 6937352379 fb: ARCHELON Crete, ARCHELON, the official page
(translation: Ourania Theodorakakou)
Joanne, whatʼs new at the Rescue Centre (April 2017)?
Dead sea turtle in Zakynthos
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.