ABOUT US

Vision-Mission

There are 7 different sea turtle species in the oceans of the world. Unfortunately, over the last 200 years, humans have made their survival hard. Here is why :

- Slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin and shells, sea turtles suffer from poaching and over-exploitation.

- They are often victims of accidental capture and death in fishing gear.

- Plastic marine litter affect their health.

- Tourism has a negative impact on their nesting sites.

- Climate change is causing global sea level rise so narrow nesting beaches maybe lost under sea water. Also sand temperatures will be altered, affecting the sex of hatchlings.

Because of these, all species of sea turtles are considered conservation dependent. Two species are listed as "Critically Endangered" by IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, while one is listed as "Endangered", three are listed as "Vulnerable" and one as "Data Deficient". Notably these characterisations can be changed in the course of only a few years with notable example that of the Northwest Atlantic leatherbacks whose population went from "Least Concern" to "Endangered" in 6 years.

Our vision

ARCHELON's vision is that these threats are removed* and sea turtles continue to exist as part of nature**

*Threats are removed= humans understand, accept and respect

**Nature= undisturbed ecosystems, high quality of cultural landscapes.

Our mission

ARCHELON designs and implements projects and actions for the conservation of sea turtles and their habitats, combining scientific work with volunteering service and aiming at mobilizing society through awareness and education for a better and sustainable planet.

We can all live together, this is the motto of ARCHELON since 1983!