On 17-20 June 2025 two on-the-spot-appraisals (OSAs) took place in Laganas Bay, Zakynthos Island, and in Thines Kiparissias, in the Peloponnesus peninsula, Greece. The OSAs related to two open case files, respectively Open File 1986/8 Greece Recommendation No. 9 on the protection of Caretta caretta in Laganas bay, Zakynthos and Open File 2010/5 Greece Threats to marine turtles in Thines Kiparissias.
The visit concerned turtle nesting sites that are considered crucial for the conservation of the species in the Mediterranean Sea and involved the Greek national, regional, and local authorities, the complainants, and the Bern Convention Secretariat. The number of turtles nests amounts to 2,050 in Laganas Bay (data from 2023) and up to 6,700 nests in Thines Kiparissias (data from 2024). The Southern Kyparissia Bay (i.e., the core of the habitat, 9.5 km long) hosts 42.2% of all Caretta nests in Greece, and 33.2% of the nests within the territory of the European Union. However, their existence is threatened by several factors, such as tourism and associated factors (sunbeds and umbrellas, night frequentation of the beaches, etc), fishing, collision with ships, light and noise pollution, beach and dune erosion and degradation.
On the occasion of the visit to Laganas Bay, the delegation had the opportunity to visit five Loggerhead Sea turtle nesting beaches at Geraka, Kalamaki, Sekania, Laganas, and Daphni both by day and night. The visit included two multi-stakeholder meetings at the Town Hall with representatives from local, regional, and national administrations, as well as officials responsible for managing the Zakynthos National Park (NECCA) and NGOs representatives. Separate meetings were also held with the director of the Zakynthos National Park and with the NGOs WWF Hellas, Archelon, and Medasset.
In Thines Kiparissias, the appraisal included night and day visits to selected sites and beaches: Elea, Kalo Nero, and Ai-Giannakis, as well as two multi-stakeholder meetings with local, regional, and national administrations, NGOs representatives, and the NECCA official responsible for managing the three Natura 2000 sites encompassing the 42 km-long beach.
The independent expert, Adolfo Marco, was tasked to carry out the visit and evaluate the situation on-site, focusing on the evolution of the case from before it was opened until the present. This included an assessment of the types and methods of surveillance and enforcement, as well as the available human and budgetary resources. The expert will produce a report summarising his findings with key recommendations which will be presented to the 45th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention (8-12 December 2025) for possible adoption.
Multistakeholder meeting at Zakynthos Town Hall
Images credit: Pep Amengual
