PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The project focused on areas that are pivotal for the conservation of the two sea turtle species present in the EU and listed as priority species in Annex II of the Habitats Directive, the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and the green turtle (Chelonia mydas). In the EU, the loggerhead turtle has major nesting sites in Greece and Cyprus, and limited nesting in Italy. Most turtles from these sites remain in the eastern Mediterranean, with key foraging grounds located in EU waters, such as the Adriatic (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia), Ionian (Italy, Greece), and the Levantine Basin (Cyprus).
In the EU, the green turtle only breeds in Cyprus, and its foraging grounds in EU waters are in Cyprus and Greece (Casale & Margaritoulis, 2010). Those foraging grounds are also frequented by turtles from other Mediterranean nesting sites.
The nesting sites and foraging grounds located in the EU are extremely important for Mediterranean Sea turtles. However, anthropogenic threats are also particularly severe in the EU, with high coastal development and fishing activities. Their combination affects sea turtles at all stages of life, from the critical reproductive phase to all age classes at sea.
The project’s activities were focused on areas where conservation measures are considered important and urgent and could make a difference for the sea turtle status at EU, national and local levels. The project included six EU countries: Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Slovenia.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the LIFE EUROTURTLES project was to improve the conservation status of populations of two priority sea turtle species in the EU, the loggerhead turtle and the green turtle.
The specific project objectives were to:
- reduce the impact of anthropogenic threats at nesting sites;
- reduce the impact of anthropogenic threats in foraging grounds, in particular fishery-related threats;
- improve the effectiveness of marine Natura 2000 sites for sea turtle conservation by extending current sites over turtle hot spot areas and improving management of those areas;
- set up a consistent approach to the conservation of the EU sea turtle populations to optimise current and future efforts and resources in the EU;
- contribute to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive with consistent collection methods and with baseline data for improving the capacity of monitoring the conservation status of the EU sea turtle populations in the future;
- promote shared responsibility for EU sea turtle populations among EU citizens, stressing the value of natural marine resources, specifically sea turtles as an excellent and charismatic flagship species;
- set up an EU network for sea turtle conservation based on common objectives and approaches.
RESULTS
The LIFE EUROTURTLES project has successfully reached its objectives. The main benefits of the project encompass mitigation of current threats and have been visible during the project for the more obvious threats/problems (e.g., number of nests protected, number of turtles treated by rescue centers). Thanks to the methods and materials provided by the project, similar activities will continue after the project, carried out by beneficiaries.
Public awareness and dissemination of the project’s objectives and achievements provided opportunities for new tourism activities based on the presence of the target species. Increased visits to the turtle rescue centres already provided revenues and added value for local communities that host the centres. The extension of the Natura 2000 sites is also contributing to both local and national commitments to conservation, which also attracts tourists and fosters motivations to develop more nature-based tourism. Working with the fishermen in the region, the project reduced the potential loss of catch by reducing the costs of conservation, which represents an important economic and psychological issue to many of the stakeholders who use the marine environment for their livelihood.
As a result, new regulations for the protection of 39 sea turtle nesting sites in 3 countries (Greece, Italy and Cyprus) were issued. Nest protection activities were established in 56 sites in 3 countries (Greece, Italy and Cyprus), resulting in 4,419 more nests successfully protected and more afterwards. 2 marine Natura 2000 sites were created in 2 countries (Croatia, Italy) to cover turtle hot-spot areas. A total of 141 fishing boats were involved in voluntary dynamic fishery management to avoid 8 turtle hot-spot areas in 6 countries (Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Malta). 317 fishing boats in 10 areas in 5 countries (Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Slovenia, Malta) were informed about onboard best practices to reduce sea turtle mortality, resulting in more than 630 turtles correctly treated during the project. One coastal foraging area in Cyprus has been cleaned from ghost gears. 3 rescue centers and rescue networks in 3 countries (Croatia, Cyprus, Greece) were improved, resulting in their capacity to treat 160 additional turtles per year. 13 competent authorities were involved in a newly-constituted EU network for sea turtle conservation.
279 public events were organised, alongside 36 conferences and 157 media releases. Through dissemination activities, 762 posters, 30.100 brochures and 5.201 t-shirts were disseminated. Lastly, 1 video of the project was produced, 1 website created and 1 exhibition held.
The app for smartphones for reporting of sea turtle encounters/catches was also created and used by fishermen to avoid sea turtle hot-spots and by common people as an awareness tool.
More than 7 million EU citizens were informed about sea turtle conservation, sea turtle EU populations, and the EU actions for the protection of these animals and marine habitats.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Plan.
