Rethymno: On the front lines for the protection of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle

A substantial reminder of the need to protect the vulnerable marine ecosystem was the information campaign that took place last Thursday on the beach of Rethymno, on the occasion of World Environment Day. Specifically, the association for the protection of the sea turtle “ARCHELON” and the tourism department of the municipality of Rethymno joined forces in an open awareness-raising event, focused on the Caretta caretta, the sea turtle that returns to the city’s coastline every year to lay its eggs.

The nesting season has already begun since May, with Rethymno being one of the three main beaches of Crete, along with the Messara Gulf and Chania, where nests of this protected species are consistently recorded. The fact that the nesting season coincides with the peak of the tourist season makes it even more imperative to adhere to specific rules and protection measures.

In fact, the “ARCHELON” volunteers conveyed simple but crucial messages of environmental responsibility to the visitors, focusing on the reuse of objects such as plastic bottles, which often end up in the sea, endangering the lives of turtles and other marine organisms.

The action also included experiential participation, with volunteers creating fake sea turtle tracks in the sand, simulating the path that the female animal follows when she comes out to land to lay her eggs. Through this visualized “field lesson”, the attendees learned how experts identify and protect nests, contributing to the conservation of the species.

At the same time, information leaflets were distributed with detailed instructions for the safe coexistence of humans and turtles on nesting beaches. In the meantime, ARCHELON reminds beach visitors to:

• Remove sunbeds, umbrellas, and beach furniture after sunset
• Turn off or cover artificial lights that are visible from the beach
• Avoid staying on the beach at night, with lights and noise
• Do not light fires or dig in the sand where nests may be located
• Do not touch or move signs, cages, and protection walkways
• Avoid using motorized vehicles on the beach and speedboats within a short distance of the shore

In the event that someone spots tracks, a nest or a turtle laying eggs, the Association calls on the public to:

• Do not disturb the animal or the nest
• Mark the location (with landmarks or GPS)
• Take photographs (only after the turtle has left) turtle)
• And submit the registration in the special electronic form on the ARCHELON website

In any case, for emergencies, such as injured turtles, a 24-hour rescue line operates at 6941 511 511.