The operators of the Euroturtles project 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.

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

LIFE Euroturtles held yesterday a public event at Brijuni National Park in Croatia during the the 6th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles aiming at presenting the new GSM transmitter developed within the project to the scientific community.

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’.

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.

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.

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.

We presented the work of the Blue World Institute through lectures on the Adriatic Dolphin Project and LIFE EUROTURTLES project.

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“

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The first meeting of partners of our new EU project „Collective Actions for Improving the Conservation Status of the EU Sea Turtle Populations – LIFE EUROTURTLES“ has been held in the Croatian Natural History Museum in Zagreb from 17-19. October 2016. Representatives of Croatian Natural History Museum, Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece – Archelon, Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Cyprus, Nature Trust Malta, University of Cyprus, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” – Universita degli studi di Roma La Sapienza, University of Primorska – Koper and WWF Italia during the meeting have agreed on starting of the first activities of the project.

Chelonia mydas has a worldwide distribution, frequenting mainly tropical zones and oceanic and shallow waters. Its nesting sites are restricted to the easternmost part of the basin, particularly in Turkey, Cyprus and Syria. Chelonia mydas lays an average of over 1500 clutches in the Mediterranean annually.