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Mediterranean sea turtle protection

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2026-07-29 03:14 UTC → 2026-07-31 07:49 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Protection measures for Mediterranean marine turtles have intensified throughout the region. Since May 2026 Turkish authorities have designated a coastal cave in Kemer as a protected breeding site for the endangered Mediterranean seal and imposed night‑time bans on 21 beaches to guard nesting sea turtles. Volunteers and park staff secured dozens of loggerhead and green turtle nests on Çıralı, Tekirova, Göynük, Belek and other sites, using cages and regular monitoring. The Meritta Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center celebrated its eighth anniversary by releasing four rehabilitated turtles, raising its cumulative releases to 212. In early July, the first hatchlings of the season were recorded on Belek Beach, part of the EKAD‑run program that has guided over 1.5 million hatchlings to sea since 1994. Greek volunteers from the Archelon Society observed the inaugural Caretta caretta hatchlings on 14 July at Dafni beach, Zakynthos, confirming the opening of the island’s nesting season and reiterating public guidelines to protect the young turtles. New research from EKAD has identified additional nesting habitats for the critically endangered Nile turtle (Trionyx triunguis) in Antalya’s rivers, highlighting threats from coastal development, concrete river channels, fishing hooks and tourist feeding. At the same time, Belek’s 32‑year protection project reported roughly 100 nests hatching this season, producing an estimated 4‑5 thousand new turtles, with monitoring continuing through September. The coordinated effort of NGOs, universities and government agencies remains key to sustaining the growing turtle populations along the Mediterranean coastline. On 31 July, the first green sea‑turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchlings of the season emerged from nests on Davultepe 100th Year beach in Mersin’s Mezitli district and reached the Mediterranean Sea.

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