YOU MUST BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD
Congestion of marine debris in Laganas Bay, Zakynthos, has been an ever increasing problem for the existing biodiversity in the bay. An illegal landfill site positioned above Vrondonero beach poses a variety of problems. The surrounding geomorphology creates a wind tunnel which expels the rubbish to the marine and terrestrial environment creating accumulations in the protected nesting beaches and marine area. As well, large amounts of litter are stranded each year from the sea, such as abandoned fishing gear, bottles and plastic bags that are threat for sea turtles, causing their mortality.
In 2010, a group of volunteers from ARCHELON, The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece and scouts worked together to clean Vrondonero beach and the marine area adjacent to it, an area that is not daily wardened by the personnel of the NMPZ. The state of the beach and the marine area was very poor, and the effort to collect and remove all the waste for the coastal and marine area was remarkable. On the 3rd August 2011, ARCHELON team decided to repeat this activity!
The previous day, a team of volunteers made over ten ʽsea-friendly bin bagsʼ made from mosquito nets and wire to allow water to pass through whilst cleaning. Over a period of three hours in the heat of the day we worked hard to remove the rubbish from the beach and from the seafloor. The accumulation of litter removed from the beach and from the sea filled over 20 bin bags! Whilst diving and removing the plastic debris, our volunteers had the opportunity to admire many different species of fish, jellyfish and even a seahorse, a positive sign of the rich biodiversity of Laganas Bay.
Due to the success of our marine cleans, we are planning to perform a series of such activities all around the bay until the end of the 2011 season to contribute actively in the improvement of the quality of Laganas Bay, a major Mediterranean habitat for the Loggerhead sea turtle, whilst promoting environmentally friendly behaviour. We hope our efforts will increase the marine life in the NMPZ and make it more ʽTurtle Friendlyʼ. If everyone collects a single discarded plastic bag the state of our world will be greatly improved!
JOIN US! ʽYOU MUST BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLDʼ Mahatma Gandhi
Danielle Gault Public Awareness Leader of ARCHELON Project in Zakynthos
NO! to the Youth Beach Festival on the Caretta caretta nesting beach organized by the Phaistos Municipality and the Crete regional authorities for 12 August
The first hatchlings in Crete... headed for the lights
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS12/09/2025
Τhe first green sea turtle nest has hatched in Naxos island!
The emergence of a nest on Naxos is a sign that the geographical range of this threatened species in the Mediterranean may be expanding.
- OUR NEWS09/09/2025
School Tours at ARCHELON: Reserve Your Spot from September 11
The magical world of sea turtles and the people who are taking care of them is waiting, offering you a unique experience and valuable knowledge.
- OUR NEWS05/09/2025
The first report of 2025 delivered from Romanos Beach, Messinia
From mid-May to early September 2025, the project recorded about 80 nests along the 2.7 km stretch of Romanos beach.
- 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