A record number of Caretta caretta sea turtle nests have been documented in Greece this year, says Ta Nea.

According to current data, around 7,500 sea turtle nests have been recorded in the southern Kyparissia Gulf, nearly five times the average of the past 15 years and a record 30-year high.

Similarly, in the Laganas Gulf, particularly within the Zakynthos National Marine Park, the highest number of sea turtle nests since 1995 has been surpassed for the second consecutive year.

As of August 27th, 2,350 nests had been identified, expected to reach 2,500 by early October, surpassing last year’s record of 2,033 nests.

Populations on the Rise

The abovementioned figures are significant, as Greece hosts 60% of the total Caretta caretta population in the Mediterranean, with Zakynthos and the Kyparissia Gulf being the largest nesting areas in Europe.

Lorran Sourbes, head of the Zakynthos National Park Management Unit, notes the remarkable increase in turtle nests for the second year in a row, indicating a successful breeding season and a hopeful future for the species, says Ta Nea.

However, conservation efforts must continue, as the increased nest numbers do not mean the threats to sea turtles have disappeared.

Aliki Panagopoulou, the scientific coordinator for “Archelon,” emphasizes that although there is a record number of nests, risks still exist, especially at sea, where fishing activities pose a significant threat.

37-Year World Record

The success in conservation is evident as Caretta caretta is now classified as “low-risk” on Greece’s Red List of Threatened Species, and is no longer considered endangered. This success results from decades of management actions in nesting areas which means that conservation efforts must continue.

In 2023, a world record was set when a turtle named Gaia, first observed on Zakynthos in 1986, was recorded making a nest on Sekania beach after 37 years of reproductive life. This surpasses the previous record of 36 years set by a turtle in Florida, USA.

Caretta caretta

Continued Threats

Despite the positive trends, the dangers for sea turtles remain, particularly from fishing activities that have increased due to the decline in fish stocks. “Archelon” has established the Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Glyfada, where injured turtles are treated.

Moreover, sea pollution in the form of plastics and ghost nets remain serious threats to the sea turtles, which are frequently found dead in freefloating fishing nets or strangled by plastic waste in the sea.

About Caretta caretta

Caretta caretta turtles lay eggs every two to four years on sandy beaches between June and September. While a migratory species, Mediterranean-born populations do not leave the region.

These large creatures can have a shell length of up to 120 cm and weigh up to 150 kg, though some individuals have been recorded weighing over 450 kg. They live both in deep waters and coastal areas, feeding on a variety of marine organisms, and can live up to 60 years in captivity.