Sea turtles attempt nesting on Italian Riviera and Elba beaches

Volunteers monitoring the Ligurian coast at San Lorenzo al Mare recorded turtle tracks on 3 July 2026, prompting biologists, the GLIT group and the Imperia Port Authority to verify a failed nesting attempt with no eggs laid.

On the same day, a volunteer on the Elba island beach of Fetovaia discovered clear signs of a successful nesting by a loggerhead turtle, the first confirmed nest of 2026. Coast‑guard officials and Legambiente’s marine‑turtle project secured the site with a fence and warning signs. Both incidents highlight increasing turtle activity along Italy’s western shoreline and the ongoing call for the public to avoid disturbing turtles, refrain from flash photography, and report sightings to the coast guard (1530) or the responsible volunteer teams.