Urgent Call for Volunteers: Are you looking for a meaningful adventure? Join in to save sea turtle hatchlings!
ARCHELON is facing an unprecedented rise in sea turtle nesting activity across all key nesting sites in Greece. Preliminary data indicate a significant increase in nest numbers compared to previous years.
For those of you who know us already, here are the numbers: the ARCHELON team on Zakynthos has already recorded over 2,300 loggerhead nests, while the team at Kyparissia Bay has surpassed last year's numbers and located an astonishing 7,500 nests. The Lakonikos team is also experiencing a boom with 900 recorded nests, the team at Rethymno has seen a doubling of previous numbers with 360 nests, and the team at Messara Bay has recorded one of their highest numbers with about 250 nests.
This overwhelming number of sea turtle nests demands an increased effort from our teams. With the hatching season peaking between August 15th and September 30th, we urgently need volunteers to assist with recording the hatching of nests, shading nests against light pollution and conducting nest excavations. In addition, as tourists continue to frequent most of the nesting beaches, we need to keep informing them through public awareness activities such as sea turtle beach walks. To meet these demands, we need to invite additional volunteers in order to inform and engage with the public.
Unfortunately, due to many of this year’s volunteers being students, we are facing a shortage of manpower during August and September. But we are sure that there are many of you out there, in your 20s and older, up to 60+, who could take up the challenge and volunteer for sea turtles in Greece during the next two months. No prior experience is required.
To help you make up your mind, ARCHELON will sponsor up to 50 volunteers, who will receive a discount on a first-come, first-served basis. People committing to a minimum of five weeks will receive a 50% discount on their volunteering fees, while those staying for three to four weeks will be eligible for a 30% discount.
If you are passionate about nature and available to dedicate your time to this important cause, please join us in protecting these amazing marine creatures. Your help is invaluable!
Send in your application right away. We will respond by offering you a placement within 5 working days. Once your participation is confirmed, you will need to finalise your travel arrangements.
Apply here!
The discount does not apply to local residents and Greek speakers.
A Major Leap for Sea Turtle Conservation: Tracking Loggerheads Across the Mediterranean
Help Hatchlings Reach the Sea: Keep Nesting Beaches Dark for Sea Turtles!
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.