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 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.
- 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.