We were saddened to be notified of the death of the adult female turtle with code L1703, that was tagged after nesting in Kyparissia Bay four years ago, on July 4, 2019. The tagging had taken place in Vounaki, the core area of the nesting habitat. What a tragic irony... this turtle was found dead in the same area on March 23, 2023, drowned after getting entangled in a thin nylon net that immobilized it.

Sea turtles are migratory animals. They nest every 2-3 years and migrate to feeding grounds in between. We are wondering: in which region of the Mediterranean did this turtle live? Our studies have shown that most of the turtles tagged in Greece travel to the north Adriatic Sea or the Gulf of Gabes in Tunisia, covering distances of over 1,000 km. Looking at the data, it seems that L1703 may have nested intermittently, in 2021, two years after her previous nesting, but we did not happen to locate her.

Fishing is the main threat to sea turtles worldwide. Turtles breathe with lungs, so when they get entangled in nets and lines, they get suffocated. Τhis is why the cooperation of fishermen is important for implementing best fishing practices and avoiding as far as possible the deaths of sea turtles. A number of examples have reached us in recent years, where fishermen themselves had released turtles that were accidentally caught in their gear.

ARCHELON coordinates the nationwide Sea Turtle Rescue Network, whereby dead and injured turtles are located and reported at sea or on the coast with the help of the Coast Guards. The injured turtles are taken to the ARCHELON Rescue Centre in Glyfada, Attica where they are treated and return to their natural environment after rehabilitation.

The "philopatry’ of sea turtles is widely known, as they return to nest in the areas where they were born and continue to nest in the same area throughout their lives. L1703 was no exception as it made the long migratory journey back to its "homeland", Vounaki, in order to nest this coming season. Unfortunately, a fishing net stood in the way, preventing it from completing this year's and the subsequent breeding cycles.

You can read more about the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre and become a volunteer here.