Life Euroturtles

The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) runs a marine turtle rescue centre located in the Cyprus Marine Aquaculture Research Centre (CyMARC) in Larnaca. For the period of 2016 – 2021 all turtles reported in need of treatment were transferred at the Meneou Turtle Rescue Center within the same day that they were reported. […]

Cyprus Marine Turtle Nesting 2017-2020 Prior to the commencement of the LIFE Euroturtles project and specifically during 2017 nesting season, 973 nests were monitored and protected on the beaches that were considered for the project. During the 2018 nesting season, 1188 nests were monitored on the beaches considered for the LIFE Euroturtles Project. A total […]

In February 2022. Croatian TV brought a report for regional TV magazine – Alpe – Danube -Adriatic aired in Austria, Slovenia and Croatia on Turtle rescue centre on Lošinj that was upgraded thanks to LIFE EUroturtles project and project activities carried out during the project. More on this report on the web pages of the […]

Thanks to the extension of the project until December 2021, 48 awareness raising events were held in 2021 with the release of 31 turtles in Policoro, Maratea, Taranto, Noto, Scoglitti, Avola, Sciacca, Acireale e Mazara del Vallo. The news of 2021 was the presentation of the exhibition of the euroturtles project which was set up […]

Although the LIFE Euroturtles project finished, interest of the public is not dwindling. In December Croatian Natural History Museum has delivered the exhibition to Natural History Museum Split. The exhibition has been additionally upgraded by curators of the Split museum and Croatian TV brought the news on 16. Dec 2021. (https://youtu.be/a1glZKt5q8c). Due to the holidays […]

With last day of the year passing, LIFE Euroturtles has reached its finish. During 63 months nine partners from six European countries worked hard for conservation of sea turtles. When we started the project in September 2016. no one of us could even dream of all the trials that we, our partnership and the entire […]

Croatian Natural History Museum organised final event in Croatia on 22.12.20021. Unfortunately, due to catastrophic earthquake that hit Zagreb, CNHM has been heavily damaged and we had to evacuate our building. Therefore, and because of COVID19 pandemic, we were unable to organise the final event on a larger scale in our building. Still, we wanted […]

Croatian Natural History Museum and partners have organised LIFE Euroturtles final conference. The conference has unfortunately had to be organised on-line due to COVID19 pandemic. The invited participants included relevant authorities and managers who have been invited to join a network of managers for sea turtle conservation through which they can exchange relevant information and […]

During 14.12.2021. our project had final monitoring visit from Mr. Nikica Skroza from NEEMO. We have presented project progres and finalised activities and discussed preparation for development of the final report. At the end of the meeting the whole project partnership warmly thanked mr. Skroza for his help, support, advice and collaboration during last 5 […]

On 8. December 2021. LIFE Euroturtles partners have held their last project partnership meeting. We discussed our partnership, all the actions we have carried out, revisited many lessons learned and started preparing for final conference and preparation of project’s Final report. Although project will officially end on 31.12.2021. there is stil a lot of work […]

The education kit of the LIFE EUROTURTLES project was translated in Croatian and is now available for use in Croatian speaking schools. Activities are described through Teachers’ and Students’ book as well as the Ppt presentation in Croatian. The kit was developed by ARCHELON and used in their field projects during information events for tourists […]

The positive results of the monitoring activities of summer 2020 were confirmed in the 2021 breeding season, even though a slight decline was registered with 60 identified and protected nests, most of which were located in Sicily. The Italian coasts, and in particular those of Sicily and generally of the South, are thus confirmed an […]

In 2021, the monitoring of the beaches carried out by the operators of the Euroturtles project allowed the identification of 63 nests, a little less than in 2020 but still a good news that confirms the increase in nests on the Italian coasts. Ultimately, Sicily is confirmed as the most important Italian region for Caretta […]

One of the special features of this summer is the great interest of the public for the sporadic nests of sea turtle that are made in different parts of the Greek coastline, from the south i.e. Rhodes, Sitia, Naxos, Paros to Corfu, Volos and Epanomi in the north of Greece. Attica, the region of Athens, […]

was part of the Rab Researchers’ Night program organized by the Rab National Education Institution on 25. i 26. 9. 2021.

The education kit of the LIFE EUROTURTLES project was translated in English in 2020 and is now available for distribution to both Greek and English speaking schools. Activities for the student’s book as well as the Ppt presentation of the English version have been used in ARCHELON’s field projects during information events for tourists and […]

The one-day exhibition “Protection and Conservation of European Sea Turtles” was set up on 16th September 2021 in the Maritime Museum Orebić in Orebić on Pelješac. The exhibition was visited by about a hundred locals and tourists.

The mobile exhibition of the Croatian Museum of Natural History “Protection and Conservation of European Sea Turtles” was set up at the Korčula Town Museum

was set up on 1. – 14. 9. 2021 in the Culture Center Vela Luka in Vela Luka, island of Korčula.

…was set up on 15th September 2021 in the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Blato.

A big step forward for marine turtle conservation in Greece: As a deliverable of the LIFE EUROTURTLES project (action A2), ARCHELON elaborated an Action Plan for Marine turtles with the collaboration of the Hellenic Ministry of the Environment. The legal document underwent public deliberation and was finally formally adopted and published on 10/8/2021 in the […]

From mid-June till the end of August a team of onboard observers of Blue World Institute and University of Primorska were monitoring sea turtle bycatch in static fishing nets.

Zadarski list is the first and only daily newspaper in Zadar. The paper was first launched as a weekly in 1994, and has been a daily newspaper since 1998. Zadarski list covers all actual topics from the Zadar region, and also brings news from the country and the world.

We are happy to announce that the ARCHELON team in Kyparissia Bay project has successfully located and protected over 500 nests already until Mid July! Morning surveys keep getting busier with some lovely surprises like the encounter of a morning turtle. At the same time, during the night, GSM transmitters send to us from Primorska […]

In June 2021 a new municipality adopted protection and awareness measures for sea turtles – the Municipality of Avola, in the province of Syracuse, which approved a resolution to place specific notice boards on the beaches suitable for turtle nesting and to develop awareness actions. After Noto, we now have another Sicilian municipality among the […]

Regarding the injured turtle that was found on Sunday, June 27, 2021, on the beach of Governor’s Beach, we would like to inform that it is a middle-aged green turtle (Chelonia mydas). The turtle was picked up by the staff of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research and transferred to the Cyprus Marine Aquaculture […]

During the activities of the project partners have been documenting their work. Although much more video material have been recorded, the documentary is about 25 minutes long so it can be watched at any time. You can find it on our Youtube channel – LIFE for European turtles – documentary

The end of May and the spawning season of sea turtles (Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas) has begun on the beaches of Cyprus. The life cycle of sea turtles is closely linked to the coast, since every year during the summer the adult females come out of the sea at night to lay their eggs […]

The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) was informed through the website “Famagusta News” about the altruistic act of Thekla and Andreas, who rescued a young sea turtle of the species Chelonia mydas, freeing it from litter and nets in which it had been trapped.

The Science Festival is one of the most popular event that has been organized in Croatia continuously since 2003

The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research in collaboration with the Department of Biological Sciences of the University of Cyprus, partners in the EUROTURTLES Life Program, organize a public information day about the marine environment of Cyprus.

The leading project partner published a commemorative postage stamp set with the motif of a loggerhead turtle.

The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, expresses its dissatisfaction, in relation to a publication on 4.3.2021, entitled “Organized beaches on turtle beaches”, with the announcements that followed from political parties and with the attempt of misinformation on the issue. In order to restore the […]

From December 2019 to January 2021, 20 meetings were held with students from different schools of all grades to talk about sea turtles and the objectives of the Euroturtles Project. Due to covid pandemic, the meetings were carried out online but, nevertheless, they caught the interest of young people. The students were fascinated by the […]

The little turtle is at the Marine Research Center of the Department of Fisheries where it is now been treated at Meneou beach, was found last October in a miserable condition, in the open sea. When she was transported for her for treatment, she had a broken skull and serious injuries to one of her […]

Spatial information is of a crucial importance for the effective conservation management of sea turtle populations and identification of high-used habitats. One of the LIFE EUROTURTLES project partners, University of Primorska, has developed a new device that uses Snapshot GPS system for obtaining locations. Once the turtle surfaces the GPS data are transmitted through GSM […]

2021 is the final year for the transnational co-funded Life Euroturtles program, in which organizations from Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Malta and Cyprus implement actions to ensure the survival of sea turtles in the Mediterranean. The project was extended for four months (until the end of 2021) as the pandemic caused many delays and difficulties […]

Croatian Museum of Natural History in cooperation with the Šibenik City Museum during November held 5 workshops for organized school and kindergarten groups.

The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research would like to warmly thank the amateur fisherman Valantis Christofi for the recent rescue of the sea green turtle, Chelonia mydas, which was found swimming with fishing lines in the sea area of Liopetri. Such voluntary actions should be highlighted and set an example for all of us. […]

In 2020, monitoring activities began on June 1 and, by the end of the season, nearly 80 nests were identified and protected in Sicily and in the Ionian Gulf. An exceptional result if compared with the 2017 data – that year, 17 nests were found. Likely, there are different reasons behind the increase of turtle […]

The last ARCHELON mission for 2020 was completed in September 2020 at the beach of Preveza, in western Greece. More than 15 loggerhead nests have been recorded there, from Kastrosykia to Mytikas, during the last 4 summers. “What is interesting in this particular beach is the observation of temperature within the nests. We placed the […]

Since the beginning of 2020, 26 outreach and awareness activities have been held in Policoro (MT), Torre Ovo and Torre Colimena, Ginosa (TA), Scicli (RG), Siracusa and Ragusa – some of them were in presence while, from March, other were held online. During some of these initiatives, turtles rehabilitated by the Policoro rescue center were […]

Umag, Croatia

On Friday, 25th of September 2020, the Blue World Institute organized a workshop in Mali Lošinj entitled ‘Open Day for Divers and Fishermen’. The main reason for this event was the presentation of sustainable practices and protocol for removing waste from the seabed, as well as the presentation of implementation of a modelling tool able […]

The Blue World Institute and the University of Primorska conducted extensive field in summer of 2018 and 2019 in Istria, Coratia in collaboration with local set net fishermen. Net illumination was tested for reducing sea turtle bycatch. Obtained results were analysed so the scientific committee can decide how to continue with this conservation action. As […]

Over 50 loggerhead sea turtles have nested so far at the Caretta beach area of Kiti-Pervolia this year, Melina Marcou of the Cyprus Fisheries Department told Philenews on Tuesday. Each nest has about 80-100 eggs with an estimated 4,000 baby turtles expected to be hatched this summer, she added. As part of the turtle preservation […]

We are in the middle of the reproductive activity of sea turtles and after about 7 weeks of incubation, with great enthusiasm and joy we welcomed last Thursday, July 23, 2020, the first turtles that hatched successfully on the protected beach of Lara. The turtles, after coming out of their nest, proceeded at a fast […]

Attendees were invited to use the citizen science application to report observations of sea turtles and received multiple items of the project promotional materials.

With great joy and satisfaction, the Marine Aquaculture Research Center (MARC) of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) released today, a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) named “Elpida” back to its natural environment. “Elpida” was located on June 8, 2020, by amateur fishermen in the sea area of Zygi with fishing line in its […]

The World Sea Turtle Day – 16th of June, was celebrated at the Blue World Institute as a part of the activities of the „Collective Actions for Improving the Conservation Status of EU Sea Turtle Populations“ (LIFE EUROTURTLES) project. Therefore, interactive educational workshop on the excursion boat „Krško“ at Zabodarski Bay, island of Lošinj was […]

The positive outcome of this work has resulted in a voluntary reporting of sea turtle bycatch by those fishermen in winter and spring.

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020, around 18:00, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR), of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment was notified by a citizen for locating a sea turtle on the beach of Kiti in Larnaca, which was in a lethargic state and was not responding. The male, Green Turtle […]

Modra Lasta is a Croatian teen school magazine for young people. It comes out once a month during the school year, on about 52 pages. The journal is interesting, educative and fun; it follows the curriculum of higher grades of elementary school, but also topics interesting to this generation such as music, fashion, film, love […]

You will be pleased to learn that the sea turtles have not abandoned us, although there are fewer to be seen than the thousands we counted last spring.

“How to bring nature protection closer to the students” is published in the Proceedings of the 10th Meeting of Museum Educators with International Participation. It presents the educational activities of the project. This paper was presented as a public presentation at the 10th Meeting of Museum Educators with international participation “Borders and Visions” held from […]

is the is the official publication of the Croatian Museum Society.

The Department of Biodiversity organizes regular biological evenings, events where employees present their professional and research activities to university students, high school pupils and public. As a part of this events, we presented the topic of biology and conservation of sea turtles in Adriatic as a part of LIFE EUROTURTLES project. Intermediate results such as […]

The Natura 2000 site ” Arcipelago delle Pelagie”, cod. ITA040013, has been expanded

In November 2019 a seminar was held for primary school teachers presenting the educational package of LIFE EUROTURTLES project in Athens. The seminar was presented by Vasilis Hatzirvasanis, illustrator and environmental interpreter and the creator of the package, Katerina Tsikalaki, the environmental education officer of ARCHELON, and Ilias Pitsikas, member of the environmental education committee […]

During 2019 summer, 18 public initiatives were realized – 10 of these initiatives took place in Policoro and included the release of turtles rehabilitated in the Policoro rescue center. Other initiatives were held in Calabria (Rossano Calabro), Puglia ( Manduria, Avetrana) and Sicily (Torre Salsa, Siculiana, and Mazara del Vallo). Awareness activities were also carried […]

ARCHELON was happy to host the 4th project partner’s meeting in Greece. The meeting was held on 24 and 25 September near the ARCHELON’s Rescue Centre facilities. Participants from all the beneficiaries discussed the progress and challenges of the project’s actions. The meeting was also attended by our project advisor from EASME and NEEMO technical […]

Noto, the wonderful town famous for its masterpieces of Baroque art, is the first Sicilian
municipality “ Sea Turtles friend”

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.

The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, expresses its surprise at the statements of a Member of Parliament who reacts to the implementation of the legislation ratified by the House of Representatives on the protected area “Lara” and which has been in force since 1989. […]

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 existing facility of the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Mali Lošinj led by the Blue World Institute has just been upgraded with the purchase of three new tanks for sea turtle recovery. Moreover, technical conditions necessary for accommodation of the animals on recovery have been improved by replacement of the plumbing network, installation of […]

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.

A team of researchers assembled from the Croatian Natural History Museum and the Blue World Institute successfully finished the first part of an aerial survey aimed at collecting data on the distribution of sea turtles. The aerial survey covered a large area, including the entire Northern Adriatic and an area in the central part of […]

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.

The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) expresses its regret regarding the publication in the media under the title “Shots fired by local authorities of Paphos against the Department of Fisheries” and wishes to clarify the following: The non-existent and unjust statements regarding the work of DFMR for the protection of sea turtles, through […]

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

The LIFE Euroturtles project and its educational activities run by the museum were presented at the conference by Renata Brezinščak, museum adviser for the Education and museum educator of the project.

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.

WWF Italy has produced a document intended for the operators of the Euroturtles Project on the guidelines to monitor and secure sea turtle nests. The document outlines clear indications about all phases of the activities with the aim of standardasing the working process for all operators, making sure that best practices are applied to both […]

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.