"Tourists and turtles?" The environmental awareness campaign of ARCHELON spreads to the nesting beaches of the Loggerhead sea turtle
It is already April, and most of the Loggerhead turtle that have started their reproductive migration this year in the Mediterranean have already approached their nesting areas, i.e. the beaches where they themselves hatched as small turtles decades ago.
"We expect them to start coming out and making nests on Greek beaches in late May, especially in Laganas Bay of Zakynthos, Kyparissiakos Bay, Koroni, Lakonikos Bay, Rethymno, Chania and Messara Bay," says Michalis Souroulides, Field Project Coordinator at ARCHELON. "At the same time, the first tourists will start arriving, who need to be informed about the miracle of life that is happening in these places and how they can help protect the reproduction of sea turtles," he continues.
According to available scientific data, 45% of the nests of the Loggerhead sea turtle in the Mediterranean are recorded by ARCHELON with the help of volunteers and protected on a total of approximately 100 kilometers of Greek coastline. In the above areas, volunteers also try to inform visitors by operating seasonal information stations, giving presentations at hotels and organizing events.
There is already cooperation with dozens of hotels, but the number of visitors to the sites is constantly increasing. Thus, a new communication and collaboration strategy will start to be implemented in ARCHELON's field projects with hotels located on nesting beaches as well as with hotels that hold the Green Key in these areas.
"This year, we will try to ensure that information on the appropriate code of conduct for visitors reaches all nesting beaches of ARCHELON's projects. The key to the success of the awareness campaign is cooperation with the tourism sector, and especially hotels," says environmental scientist Thanos Bollas, Sustainable Tourism Officer at the organization. The training of field leaders and volunteers in each project will be adapted accordingly.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to participate in the Sea Turtle Beach Walks, i.e. to take a walk with our volunteers on some of the nesting beaches. These walks take place during the summer months and are part of ARCHELON's environmental awareness program with the aim of highlighting the correct interactions between humans and sea turtles, as well as the need to preserve coastal ecosystems.
If you work in the tourism sector near a sea turtle nesting beach, please contact ARCHELON (phone: +30 6932600182, email: tourism@archelon.gr, Thanos Bollas, Sustainable Tourism Officer) to learn how you can help sea turtles this summer.
If you are a resident of, or intend to visit, one of the loggerhead nesting areas in Greece this summer, see here for the basic code of conduct and take part in an educational walk on a nesting beach.
Coordination for the protection of sea turtles in Rethymno: Local authorities and tourism businesses join forces
LIFE MareNatura - The largest marine biodiversity program in Greece
RECENT NEWS
- 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.
- OUR NEWS10/06/2025
New Adaptation Strategies for Sea Turtles and Mediterranean Monk Seals
Institutions, associations and researchers will work for 5 years alongside the coastal communities to evaluate and respond to the effects of rising sea levels and ocean warming. These are to be developed through the ‘LIDE ADAPTS’ project which is being carried out in Italy, Greece and Cyprus.