VOLUNTEER FOR THE SEA TURTLE PROJECTS IN 2022
You may have heard of endangered sea turtles in the Mediterranean, where 2 different species of sea turtle breed: the loggerheads and the green turtles. Unfortunately, in recent years, people have made their survival difficult. Sea turtles are often accidentally caught and killed in fishing gear. Plastic marine litter affects their health and tourism occupies their nesting beaches. Climate change means more troubles for the sea turtles. Global sea levels are expected to rise and narrow nesting beaches may be lost underwater. Their populations will be decreased due to the rise of the temperature of the sand, which affects hatching as well as the sex ratio of hatchlings.
Greece hosts almost half of the loggerhead nests laid in the Mediterranean every year. The protection of nesting beaches contributes greatly to the conservation of sea turtle populations. Through the projects of ARCHELON, approximately 75 kilometers of coast are supervised every summer in Zakynthos, Crete (Rethymno, Chania, Messara) and the Peloponnese (Kyparissia, Koroni, Lakonikos), where we make sure that:
Reproduction success each year is affected by extreme weather events, severe soil erosion and predation by wildlife but also by human activities on nesting beaches. With your help, we record and protect sea turtles, their nests and turtles on nesting beaches, as well as treat injured or sick turtles at the Rescue Center.
We invite enthusiastic and dedicated people to participate as volunteers in the projects of 2022. "This is a great 6-month effort made by ARCHELON every year, since 1984, to record and protect the nesting of sea turtles in the most important habitats of Greece. Many of us are involved all year round in the organization, execution and evaluation of field projects" says the Director of ARCHELON, Dafni Mavrogiorgos.
More than 500 volunteers from all over the world participate every year in the field projects of ARCHELON. Not only do they protect the nests but they also provide information and information material to visitors from the ARCHELON information stations. They also carry out systematically presentations in hotels in order to raise the awareness of the visitors.
See the requirements and download the project brochure here (in English)
If you are interested in an internship, please consult the Internships page as well.
If you already have experience participating in a sea turtle conservation project, there is an opportunity to participate as a Field Leader. See what is the role of Field Leaders and apply until January 10th.
NEW DEADLINE for Field Leader Applications: 07/02/2022
«Make-A-Wish» of Greece – Nikolas participates in the release of two sea turtles from the Rescue Centre
RECENT NEWS
- 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.
- 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.