A recent study of the clutch frequency of the loggerheads nesting in the southern gulf of Kyparissia, Greece by ARCHELON (2020) showed that the estimated number of sea turtles breeding in the Mediterranean may be overestimated by 73%. Now that we know there are fewer sea turtles breeding in the Mediterranean than we thought, more efforts to protect adult turtles must be taken up.

Following the Greek government's announcements the day before yesterday about the gradual removal of the lockdown measures, we are now more prepared to announce developments for our projects.

At a time when human affairs are postponed and delayed, life in nature does not stand still. Help us continue to protect and care for sea turtles in this difficult time. Your donation is needed to get us all together to a worthwhile tomorrow.

The global efforts to deal with the spread of COVID19 coronavirus are escalating. It has become obvious that the participation of volunteers from abroad to ARCHELON projects will not be possible for some time.
 

We were delighted to receive members, old and new volunteers and staff as well as friends from other environmental organizations at this ARCHELON event in Plaka, center of Athens, on January 30th.

A local consultation meeting on the proposed Action Plan for the 3 species of sea turtles found in the Mediterranean and in the Greek coasts in particular, was hosted by the Regional Unit of Rethymnon, Crete, on the 3rd of February. Rethymnon is one of the nesting sites for sea turtles in Greece.

Thanks to ARCHELON’s nationwide sea turtle Stranding Network, anglerfish were recorded as opportunistic predators of sea turtles in the Med for the first time. A juvenile loggerhead turtle was found in the stomach of an anglerfish! Here is the story...

This short report, submitted to the European Commission and the National authorities, presents the main events in the efforts to protect the nesting habitats of Loggerhead sea turtles in the island of Crete, Greece during 2019.
 

From the pool of applications for Field Leaders, we will also select a small number of Coordinators for the projects. The deadline for applying for Field Leaders is approaching!

ARCHELON is a very busy organization throughout the year, but December is especially a time of outreach for volunteers and fund raising. All our efforts contribute to the rescue and conservation of sea turtles in Greece. If you like what we do, join us and support us! But what is it that we do, in a nutshell?

Through the Rescue Network, ARCHELON’s volunteers take care of 15 sea turtles entangled to fishing nets on average every year. Last August, however, the Zakynthos team was surprised to observe a loggerhead laying her nest on Kalamaki beach, with her front flipper tightly wrapped in a fishing net. This is adding to the evidence of the impacts of abandoned fishing nets in the Mediterranean on sea turtles.
 

Twenty “turtlers” responded to this call, reached mountain Tymphristos, a 4- hour- drive from Athens, and gathered in the mountain shelter Velouchi (1850 m. alt) on 1-3 November. You could argue that the place was too far from sea turtles. That’s right – we wanted it to be far enough from the beach and we succeeded!

In less than 100 km of sandy beaches in Greece, one can find almost 50% of the loggerhead nests laid in the Mediterranean. The fate of these eggs and nests rests with human vigilance. Unless they are protected, the population of the loggerhead in the Mediterranean will drop sharply within a few years.

Upon completion of the ARCHELON program for 2019 in the Kyparissia Bay, the annual report for the region is now published.