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 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.
- OUR NEWS08/06/2025
World Oceans Day: Conservation and Anthropogenic “Wounds” in Laganas Bay, Zakynthos
On the occasion of World Oceans Day, ARCHELON brings to the fore the challenges facing Laganas Bay, Zakynthos - one of the most important refuges of the loggerhead sea turtle in the Mediterranean.
- OUR NEWS06/06/2025
Sekania: History of the most precious refuge for the Loggerhead in Zakynthos
Sekania, a secluded 600-meter-long beach in Zakynthos, is a global model of success in biodiversity conservation, with more than 24,000 sea turtle nests recorded over the last 40 years.
- OUR NEWS05/06/2025
World Environment Day: Keeping Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches Safe from Plastics and Bulldozers
On June 5th, we celebrate World Environment Day, a day established by the United Nations in 1972. This year’s theme is #BeatPlasticPollution, and ARCHELON is calling for action on the sea turtle nesting beaches.
- OUR NEWS02/06/2025
Sea Turtles Return to Crete: A Shared Victory for Nature and Sustainable Travel
ARCHELON volunteers have just located the first sea turtle nests of the season on the beaches of Rethymno, Messara, and Chania. Now the challenge to prove that tourism destinations on Crete can make a significant move towards sustainability is on again.
- OUR NEWS29/05/2025
Amvrakikos Project 2025: Special Call for a Field Leader
ARCHELON is looking for a highly motivated person to lead its project in Amvrakikos Gulf, one of the few foraging sites for loggerhead turtles in Greece linking several populations nesting across the Mediterranean region.
- OUR NEWS22/05/2025
Sea turtle nesting has begun in Greece: learn what to look out for!
The first nests for 2025 have already been located and protected at Laganas beach in Zakynthos, Elaia beach in Kyparissia Bay and Pachia Ammos beach in Messara Bay in Crete!
- OUR NEWS16/05/2025
Advancing sea turtle photo-ID research with artificial intelligence
Sea turtle facial scales remain stable throughout a turtle’s life allowing researchers to recognise individuals from photos, often taken over decades!
- OUR NEWS15/05/2025
Kyparissia Bay: Balancing Nature and Tourism
Αs the popularity of the protected area increases and pressures from tourism and climate change intensify, the question that arises is: How many people can this beach “bear” without degrading the environment?
- OUR NEWS07/05/2025
Discover the secret nature of Crete: Sea Turtle Beach Walk with ARCHELON
Live a unique ecotourism experience in Crete by participating in ARCHELON Sea Turtle Beach Walks on the nesting beaches of the Loggerhead, starting on May 15th in Chania and Rethymno. Now open for reservations on our website!
- OUR NEWS24/04/2025
Are You Over 50? The Sea Turtles Need You!
If you’re 50 or older and ready to dive into a unique conservation experience, we warmly invite you to join us. Help protect sea turtles, meet like-minded people, and discover the natural beauty of Greece with ARCHELON by your side.