Sea turtles
a foraging meeting point
Sea turtles are marine reptiles that use diverse terrestrial and marine habitats, and undergo migrations spanning thousands of kilometers.
Three species of marine turtles can be found in Greek waters: the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), a rare but frequent visitor from the Atlantic Ocean, the green (Chelonia mydas) and the loggerhead (Caretta caretta), which is the only species nesting in Greece.
Sea turtles in Amvrakikos
An important foraging area for adult
and juvenile loggerhead turtles
Sea turtles are an enigmatic species and there is not much available information related to their lives at sea. Amvrakikos Gulf is one of the few marine sites in Greece that have been confirmed as important foraging areas for adult and juvenile loggerhead turtles thanks to ARCHELON’s long-term monitoring project. Since the early 2000’s, approximately 200 individuals are captured and tagged annually, and we now know more about the turtles occupying the area. They seem to frequently use the nutrient-rich shallow waters adjacent to several lagoons bordering the Gulf, especially close to the mouths of the rivers Louros and Arachthos.
Recent studies using satellite telemetry, genetics and the return of external flipper tags have shown that Amvrakikos Gulf is a site of regional importance for loggerhead turtles, since individuals from several nesting rookeries (Zakynthos, Kyparissia Bay, Rethymno, Kefalonia, Turkey, Libya) are using this habitat. More recently, the regular presence of green turtles was also confirmed.
Incidental capture in fishing gear is one of the threats having the highest impact on sea turtles occupying Amvrakikos. The Gulf is intensely fished, mostly using set nets, bottom long lines and traps. Captures in fishing gear are incidental and are considered bycatch (i.e. the unintended capture of non-target species), however these have a negative impact.
For example, when turtles accidentally caught in fishing nets are unable to reach the surface to breathe, they may drown. Mortality may reach 80% of such cases. Other lethal incidents can occur by ingestion of hooks and fishing lines. Intentional killing or injuring bycaught sea turtles has been reported in the past but it is rather rare.
Collaboration with local fishers is key to the long-term protection of sea turtles migrating to and from Amvrakikos Gulf to the rest of the Mediterranean.
Amvrakikos Alliance partners
