Life Euroturtles

The Blue World Institute and the University of Primorska joined forces this year in Istria in order to maximize the collaboration with fishermen

The constant activity of monitoring and awareness raising carried out for the Euroturtles project is giving us the desired results that encourage us to continue in this direction

The Oceanography Centre (OC) in collaboration with Yiannos Mylonas (Athletic Centre of the University of Cyprus), continuedthe diving expeditions in the frame of the implementation of action C6 –Reducing the impact of ghost gear in turtles.

The Oceanography Centre (OC) team in collaboration with the local fishermen installed and tested320 meters of trammel nets illuminated with LED lightsin the areasof Latsi, Pomos, and Zygi.

Mr. Costas Kadis, Cuprus’ MOA Minister, visited the Natura 2000 area of Polis – Gialias and met representatives of the local authorities and was briefed on the implementation of the program for sea turtle’s protection. The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) and expert associates showed to the Minister the so far progress of […]

During 2019 turtle nesting season, DFMR used successfully the DRONE for monitoring the turtle nesting activity mainly in Pervolia and Softades beaches and more occasionally in the protected areas of Lara-Toxeftra and Polis-Yialia.

The Oceanography Centre, University of Cyprus (OC – UCY) in collaboration with a licensed subcontractor (ENERCO Energy Recovery Ltd) of OC – UCY, carried out the second collection of ghost gear that where placed in collection bins in the target areas of the action of action C6 – Reducing the impact of ghost gear in […]

Representatives of University of Cyprus – Oceanography Centre (OC – UCY) participated in the filming of Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation’s (CyBC) documentary with the title “Message in a plastic bottle”.

Use of a ROV in the frame of the implementation of the action C3 – Marine hot-spot areas for sea turtles: dynamic fishery management and areas of extension of Natura 2000 sites and action C6

The University of Primorska in collaboration with Fondazione Cetacea from Italy attached another GPS-GSM transmitter on a rehabilitated sea turtle.

The Blue World Institute and the University of Primorska joined forces this year in Istria in order to maximize the collaboration with fishermen.

Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Caretta sea turtles (Caretta caretta) breed in the region of the Mediterranean, the former almost exclusively in Cypriot beaches. To the human eye these beaches are of extraordinary beauty and through the years the visitors’ numbers at Lara – Toxeftras protected area has increased. Thus, the Department of Fisheries […]

Piran, Slovenia The University of Primorska, Department of Biodiversity commenced the drone surveys for assessing the off-shore distribution of sea turtles in Slovenia in early June 2019. The two drone operators are ready for a busy season, expecting to be out on the sea once a week until September.

The University of Cyprus,Oceanography Centre (OC-UCY), preparedinteractiveeducational material for schoolchildren aged 3-12 years old,in order to inform pupils about sea turtles and their protection. The material consists of various interactive games through which pupils learn aboutthe sea turtlelife cycle, diet, survival/risk, pollution, entanglement,as well as simple practices that children can follow to protect turtles and […]

The 2019 season of aerial surveys has started in Puglia, one of the project areas for this action in Italy.

After the winter dedicated to further optimization of GPS-GSM transmitters, the University of Primorska got the opportunity, to attach the first two transmitters of 2019.

Mr Georgios FyttisfromUniversity of Cyprus –Oceanography Centre (OC-UCY) presented the actions of LIFE EUROTURTLES with an emphasis to the action C6-Reducing the impact of ghost gear in turtles, at the training seminar organized by AKTI Project and Research Centre in the frame of the project MELTEMI.

Mr Georgios Fyttis from University of Cyprus –Oceanography Centre (OC UCY) represented LIFE EUROTURTLES in the International Sea Turtle Symposium that was held at Charleston South Carolina, USAbetween 02 February and 08 February 2019.

The stuff of Oceanography Centre,University of Cyprus (OC-UCY) had a meeting with local fishermen for multiple tasks of various actions of LIFE EUROTURTLES

Euroturtles project partners in Italy have identified and protected 26 nests (23 in Sicily, 2 in Puglia and 1 in Basilicata regions), with 1292 hatchlings who were able to reach the sea.

European Commision launched European wide #EUProtects campaign showing how EU supports protecting what is important to us.

For the third time since the beginning of the project, the Beneficiaries of LIFE Euroturtles gathered together in an annual project meeting (20-21. October 2018) in order to better talk about the activities carried out in the last year, share experience, ideas, possible problems and possible solutions.

Brijuni National Park, 19. Oct. 2018. Spatial information is of a crucial importance for the effective conservation management of sea turtle populations and identification of high-used habitats. Satellite telemetry is currently the most widely used method for obtaining such information. Although efficient, this remote sensing technique (i) requires substantial funds, due to the high costs […]

On the third day of the Mediterranean Sea Turtle Conference in Poreč researchers from the Blue World Institute (BWI) and the University of Primorska hosted the workshop on ‘Whose biodiversity, whose value? Engaging with stakeholders to understand their perceptions’.

LIFE Euroturtles partners will be strongly supporting the 6th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles organisation and workshops, presenting the project and sharing acquired knowledge and experience.

Since the beginning of 2018 Blue World Institute researchers have received a total of 28 reports of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). In 27 cases dead animals were reported and in one case there was a live individual.

The partners of LIFE Euroturtles project will meet on their third project meeting in Poreč, Croatia.

After a first phase in 2017 when the method was set up, in the summer 2018 (June-September) the project module for assessing turtle distribution at sea became fully operational in the Pelagian archipelago.

During the monitoring of the effectiveness of visual cues in reducing the bycatch of sea turtles in coastal set net fisheries, two loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) were caught and rehabilitated on board before being successfully released.

The Oceanographic Centre, University of Cyprus (OC-UCY) is encouraging the public in Cyprus to download a smartphone app aimed at collecting information on observations of sea turtles in the wild.

A green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) that was found injured in Limassol last July was released back into the sea on Wednesday the 12th September 2018. The turtle, that was given the name ‘Eleftheria’ (Freedom), was successfully released into the sea at Larnaca in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Costas Kadis.

In collaboration with the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, the green turtle found in Karin was trapped and relocated to Vis Island, where the animal was measured, tagged and successfully released so that it may find its way to wintering grounds.

In the period from 09th July – 30th August 2018, a team of two dedicated researchers and three collaborating fishermen completed 28 outings with the aim of assessing the impact of modified fishing gear on sea turtle bycatch reduction

Croatian national TV brought a news on our citizen science app and green turtle in Karin Sea in the central News at 12. inviting viewers to download the app and help us in collecting the data on sea turtle observations.

An unusual looking sea turtle was caught 6-7 nautical miles off Savudrija. By examining the provided image, we were able to identify the turtle as the green turtle.

On 30th July, a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) was caught in a gillnet set by the research team assessing the effectiveness of modified fishing gear on the reduction of sea turtle bycatch. The sea turtle was caught in one of the control gillnets that were not equipped with LED light deterrents. Sadly, it was […]

The analysis of the anthropogenic threats on the beaches of 13 Italian municipalities as part of the Life Euroturtles project in Sicily, Basilicata, Puglia and Calabria was completed in July 2018.

Two researchers will be setting modified trammel nets equipped with green-coloured light-emitting diodes (LED) in collaboration with a fisherman operating in the waters off Savudrija, Croatia.

eTurtle is a citizen science application aimed at collecting information on observations of sea turtles in the wild. Currently it is available for Android OS and can be downloaded from PlayStore.

As every year, 16th of June 2018 was the date saved for the celebration of the World Sea Turtle Day! This year, as part of the educational activities on LIFE EUROTURTLES project („Collective Actions for Improving the Conservation Status of the EU Sea Turtle Populations“), Blue World Institute celebrated this important date by organizing a workshop for children at Ridimutak Beach at the island of Lošinj.

On 10th June, the application of visual deterrents to set nets, in the form of green-coloured light-emitting diodes (LED), continued in collaboration with a fisherman operating in Piran Bay, Slovenia.

The Oceanography Centre, University of Cyprus (OC-UCY), continues to carry out diving expeditions in the frame of the implementation of action C6 – Reducing the impact of ghost gear in turtles.

The staff of the Oceanography Centre, University of Cyprus is carrying out outreach activities in schools

In cooperation with the Croatian Agency for the Environment and Nature, BWI identified a number of veterinary stations and other relevant institutions in Croatia that are suitable recipients for the dissemination of rescue kits developed within the project.

The Oceanography Centre, University of Cyprus(OC-UCY), continuedthe diving expeditions in the frame of the implementation of action C6 –Reducing the impact of ghost gear in turtles on 04 April 2019

On April 6th in Palermo WWF Italy presented the first results of the monitoring activities for detecting sea turtles’ nests during the summer 2017, in the Sicilians beaches of Siculiana, Torre Salsa and Vendicari.

Mobile exhibition on sea turtles biology, ecology, threats and conservation, with particular regard to the Mediterranean and EU populations set up at the lobby of the Croatian Natural History Muesum

The University of Cyprus in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, have launched a 24/7 rescue hotline for sea turtles on the 1st of January 2018. If you spot an injured or dead sea turtle in Cyprus, call +357-96952929.

On Friday, March 16th, 2018, we used the unfavorable weather forecast that kept the fishing boats in the harbors of the island of Lošinj to organize a workshop for fishermen. During the meeting we were conducting individual interviews with each fisherman collecting the information on the procedures with caught sea turtles as well as information on their knowledge on the areas relevant for sea turtles.

The Oceanography Centre (OC) and the Scuba Diving Team of the Athletic Centre of the University of Cyprus (UCY), carried out the first diving expedition in the frame of the implementation of action C6 – Reducing the impact of ghost gear in turtles

With the late hatching nest of Campomarino di Maruggio (Taranto) on 15 October 2017, the Caretta caretta turtle breeding season closes for Italy. The first year of Euroturtles project in Basilicata and Sicily has been a year of great satisfaction : there were found on our beaches many traces of these ancient reptiles and 17 nests, mainly concentrated in Sicily, Puglia, Calabria and Basilicata, where, 29 years after the last discovery, was found a nest of 90 eggs.

The University of Cyprus – Oceanography Centre (OC-UCY) Georgios Fyttis and the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) gave informative presentations for LIFE EUROTURTLES project

Three rehabilitated turtles were released by Nature Trust Malta in the presence of Prince Charles, who took part in the release to raise awareness on the threats of litter on marine biodiversity as part of the ‘Our Ocean 2017’ conference held in Malta.

Life Euroturtles Project was presented by OC-UCY staff on the yearly organized Researcher’s Night by Research Promotion Foundation.

2nd meeting of project partners “LIFE EUROTURTLES – Collective actions for improving the conservation status of the EU sea turtle populations” has been hosted by the University of Cyprus – Oceanography Centre and the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research in Larnaca on 26-28 September 2017.

As a part of direct conservation actions of LIFE EUROTURTLES project the Department of Biodiversity started with the testing phase of a fishing net modification to reduce sea turtle bycatch – deploying the trammel nets with attached LED lights.

Oceanography centre’s stuff visited Latsi area using ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) in order to record the sea turtle foraging grounds in the Polis-Gialia Natura 2000 site (CY4000001) as well as identifying the possible location of abandoned fishing gears (ghost nets).

Members of LIFE EUROTURTLES (OC-UCY) participated in LIFE 2017 INFO DAY on 8th of June 2017, in Cavo Greco Environmental Education Centre (Cyprus).

Softades Beach: “Fencing” with the use of wooden constructions for obstructing any vehicle access and to protect the turtle nests found on that beach. This wooden fence was completed in January 2017 and the cost was covered by the Kiti Council. . Lara Beach: . The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) in 2015 […]

An underwater survey in the targeted sea turtles foraging ground was carried out by ROV expert from TEPAK and OC – UCY staff

The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) was invited to participate in the event “Paddle for our Sea” (Image 1) organized by the Windsurf-City Cyprus, in Larnaca on the 23rd July 2017.

Blue World Instiute was invited as a guest organization to SEMEP School and we used the opportunity to present LIFE Euroturtles project but also to give lecture on marine turtles biology, ecology and conservation to around 70 students and their teachers.

With the usage of one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) marine turtle tracks and potential nests were detected in two beaches in Larnaca area, Pervolia and Softades.

A young loggerhead sea turtle entangled in plastic strings was found in Čikat bay, Mali Lošinj. The turtle named Lucky remained on the observation in the Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in Mali Lošinj for two days and was released back into the sea.

On the first day of the celebration, 30th of June, we presented the work of the Blue World Institute through lectures on the Adriatic Dolphin Project, LIFE EUROTURTLES project and a retrospective of the past 25 Dolphin Days.

Injured turtle with serious head injury was transferred to the Meneou Turtle Rescue Center

The celebration of this year’s World Sea Turtles Day was one of the activities of the project „Collective Actions for Improving the Conservation Status of the EU Sea Turtle Populations – LIFE EUROTURTLES“

A drone pilot training session in Akrotiri area

During the month of June 2017, the “Rescue Kits” made under the Action C.5 “Rescue Centers and Networks”, were disseminated in the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) District Offices in Paralimni, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos.

During this day of WWF Italy volunteering mobilization for the Protection of the Sea and Coast, the operators of Euroturtle’s project organized sea turtles awareness events (ACTION E2) in Policoro and in Mondello, near Palermo. Many tourists and children participated with interest asking information about sea turtles and the project.

Mateja Zekan, the Blue World Institute’s Marine Turtle Rescue Centre manager, gave an interview on biology and ecology of sea turtles for the radio show „Minutes of Knowledge“ of Radio Jadranka Mali Lošinj.

On the 8th of June a public event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the EU LIFE programme and NATURA 2000 network was organized by Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT. The event was dedicated to emphasize the importance of the conservation of marine biodiversity and share what mechanisms can be used to preserve the marine environment.

Dr. Yianna Samuel-Rhoads from Oceanography Centre, University of Cyprus gave an interview on activities of LIFE Euroturtles project in Cyprus.

Nacionalna kontakt točka za Program LIFE pri Ministarstvu zaštite okoliša i energetike organizirala je INFO dan – LIFE otvaranje natječaja 2017. Cilj INFO dana je pružiti sudionicima novosti o otvorenom LIFE natječaju za 2017.

On the 23rd of April 2017 Nature Trust Malta, a national partner of the LIFE EuroTurtles Project, hosted an open day at the Xrobb l-Għaġin nature park for the general public where a stall was dedicated to promoting the efforts and activities of the EuroTurtles Project, informing visitors about the status of turtles in the Mediterranean, and highlighting the need for the effective conservation of these vulnerable species.

In April 2017 we presented LIFE Euroturtles project at the meeting with local fishermen from the island of Lošinj, representatives of FLAG Vela vrata operating in Cres-Lošinj area and representatives of the City of Mali Lošinj.

One of ARCHELONs rescue network officers accompanied by 1 volunteer, visited the National Park of Mesolonghi Lagoon. The Lagoon hosts many protected species one of which is the loggerhead sea turtle which uses the lagoon as a foraging site.

Three members of OC-UCY on 7. and 8.4.2017 visited the three fishing shelters (Latsi, Pomos and Kato Pyrgos), where actions of LIFE EUROTURTLES will take place.

The first Italian Life Euroturtles project public event was organized at WWF Oasis of Policoro, Basilicata, which hosts an important Turtle Centre.

LIFE Info day was organised by “LIFE Program Croatia” in Zagreb where informations on LIFE Program and co-funding oportunities were presented.

Dr. Draško Holcer, from Croatian Natural History Museum, coordinator of LIFE Euroturtles project presented the project aims, goals and activities on LIFE Info day organised in Zagreb.

As part of public awareness activities of the LIFE EUROTURLES project, Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT organized a series of lectures about sea turtles of the Adriatic and Mediterranean Sea.

The first meeting of partners of our new EU project „Collective Actions for Improving the Conservation Status of the EU Sea Turtle Populations.

Croatian Natural History Museum and eight partners from six EU countries have succesfully applied for funding on EU LIFE financial instrument.