Marine reptiles

A number of eggs belonging to the caretta caretta, or loggerhead turtle, and the chelonian mydas, both species of marine turtle under conservation, have begun to hatch on the beaches of the southern province of Mersin. 

Activists have gathered 38,410 signatures against the recent plans to privatize İztuzu Beach, after the authorities’ attempt to open one of the last untouched seashores to investors caused huge outcry. The sandy beach on the Mediterranean, located within an archeological site, is a small haven for loggerhead turtles (caretta caretta) and a specially protected area.

Sea turtles, known as caretta carettas, began laying eggs on the coasts as the egg laying season begins in Turkey. The turtle nests on the coasts are being protected by volunteers Endangered caretta carettas and the green turtles (chelonia mydas), which are under protection, began laying eggs on the coast in the southern province of Hatay’s Samandağ district.

By Giorgos Lialios

The European Commission has on numerous ocassions demanded that Greece tighten its protection of Kyparissia Bay on the western coast of Messinia in the southwestern Peloponnese, which is a key nesting site of the endangered Caretta caretta loggerhead sea turtle.