We got together at Impact Hub in Athens for the Presentation of Results of the 2022 actions!
After two years of online presentations due to the pandemic, this year we finally managed to meet the friends and members of ARCHELON in person, on February 15th at the venue of Impact Hub in the centre of Athens, where the 2022 Presentation of Results of ARCHELON took place!
"The publication and discussion of each year's results is a moment that our members, partners and friends look forward to", says Dafni Mavrogiorgos, the Director of ARCHELON. "Results from each action was presented in comparison to previous years, so as to encourage discussion on them," she continues.
Everyone who came had the opportunity to tour the area where there were posters with the results and to talk with ARCHELON’s staff about sea turtle rehabilitation at the Rescue Centre, environmental education and public awareness, volunteerism, and the sea turtle nesting activity that occurred last year.
Eirini Kasimati, the Rescue and Rehabilitation Officer, spoke about the 33 turtles that arrived at the Rescue Centre in 2022 and about the 32 that were released back to the sea. She shared with us some important moments of 2022, such as the release of "Zoi", the turtle, who after three years of treatment managed to return to his natural habitat.
The Rescue Centre Officer, Dimitris Fytilis, spoke about the 11,460 visitors and 9,540 children who participated in our educational activities. "This year, we had more visitors than any other year, which makes us happy because this is how people from all over the world and of course students from all over Greece become aware of environmental issues," he said.
The results of the field projects on the nesting beaches were presented by the Project Manager of West Peloponesse, Michalis Souroulidis. In 2022, around 5,480 nests were recorded on approximately 110 kilometers of nesting beach in the Laganas bay of Zakynthos, the Kyparissia bay, Crete and the southern Peloponnese. "With the help of the volunteers/researchers of ARCHELON it is estimated that more than 200,000 hatchlings reached the sea safely," Michalis said. He informed us that an increasing trend in the number of nests has been observed.
The public awareness actions on the nesting beaches in the year 2022 was presented by the Director of ARCHELON, Dafni Mavrogiorgos. She explained that the number of visitors that were informed about sea turtles on the nesting beaches exceeded the 59,000. A noticeable increase compared to the previous two years. The fundraising efforts of volunteers and staff at the nesting beaches resulted in a total of 68,690€ in adoptions and donations.
The presentation was followed by a discussion by the President of ARCHELON, Thomas Arapis and the Vice-President Dimitris Dimopoulos on the topic "Tourists and turtles, can they live together?". Examples were mentioned in the discussion where intense tourist activity has negatively affected the sea turtles and their habitat, as well as examples of cooperation with hotel units in the removal of beach furniture at night. The discussion concluded on the need for broader cooperation so that tourism can help the conservation of sea turtles and the turtles can help tourism in Greece, by changing the mindset of the local businesses and visitors.
The Over & above Awards could not be missed from the event as well as the cutting of the New Year's cake with the lucky coin, which was found by Nikos Manias who has been in charge of communication and collection of reports on turtle rescues and strandings.
The 2022 Results were also presented in English online on Wednesday the 1st of March. At both presentations, the short film "Volunteers protecting sea turtles in Greece" was played, which was filmed in the ARCHELON’s Rethymno project. You can watch the movie here.
More information about the volunteering and internship opportunities here.
A new ancient giant sea turtle was found in Europe
The General Assembly of the ARCHELON Association
RECENT NEWS
- 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.
- OUR NEWS22/04/2025
Turning the Tide: Sea Turtle Populations Show Signs of Recovery Worldwide
The first, after a decade, global study brings encouraging news for sea turtle conservation: more than half of their populations across the globe show signs of recovery. Listed among the authors is the Research Coordinator of ARCHELON, Aliki Panagopoulou PhD, who is mobilizing the long term field work of our Society on the nesting beaches of Greece.
- OUR NEWS17/04/2025
Special 2-week volunteering opportunity on the nesting beaches – we need you this May and June!
- OUR NEWS14/04/2025
Groundbreaking Study on Microplastic Pollution of Marine Turtle Nesting Beaches
ARCHELON took part in a recent global study that has uncovered alarming levels of microplastic contamination on marine turtle nesting beaches around the world.
- OUR NEWS09/04/2025
Become a Sea Turtle Guardian in Lakonikos Bay
Gracie and Claire, two dedicated individuals who made a significant impact on the sea turtle project of Lakonikos Bay in 2024, talked about their experience.
- OUR NEWS08/04/2025
Meeting of organizations, authorities and businessmen in Rethymno: Crete is preparing for the arrival of the turtles!
On Monday, April 7, we met for another year in the hospitable city of Rethymno to participate in the meeting organized by the Regional Unit of Rethymno on the topic of management measures for the protection of the loggerhead sea turtle!
- OUR NEWS31/03/2025
150 satellite tags for the protection of sea turtles
Since 2002, ARCHELON and its partners have placed 150 satellite and GSM tags on sea turtles monitoring their vast journeys across the Mediterranean!
- OUR NEWS24/03/2025
Become a Guardian of the Night: Volunteer with ARCHELON
On some select beaches, volunteer duties also include night patrols. During the hours when the presence of people on the nesting beaches is prohibited so as not to disturb the turtles, our trained volunteers start their shift, equipped with measuring instruments, research notebooks and red flashlights.
- OUR NEWS14/03/2025
Enriching the lives of rescued sea turtles
A recent study at ARCHELON's Sea Turtle Rescue Centre highlights the importance of environmental enrichment in improving the physical and psychological well-being of rescued sea turtles, aiding their rehabilitation and preparing them for successful release back into the wild.
- OUR NEWS24/02/2025
ARCHELON's Annual General Assembly
According to article 8 of the Statutes of ARCHELON Association, its’ members were invited to attend the Annual General Assembly on Saturday, 22 February 2025.