ARCHELON: Annual report of the national program in Zakynthos, 2025
ARCHELON has been present in Laganas Bay, Zakynthos, since the early 1980s, conducting research activities related to the recording and protection of sea turtle nesting, while systematic nest counts began in 1984.
ARCHELON’s 2025 program for recording and protecting nests and hatchlings in Zakynthos was successfully carried out by 100 volunteers/researchers during the period May to October. According to preliminary data, approximately 2,155 nests of the species were recorded. It should be noted that this was the third consecutive year with a high number of nests, which gives cause for optimism about the recovery of the Zakynthos population.
The systematic recording program of sea turtle nesting conducted by ARCHELON in Laganas Bay is one of the longest-running programs in the world for this species. Taking into account the annual nest records over 42 years (1984–2025), it can be concluded that the reproductive population of Caretta caretta nesting in Laganas Bay is generally stable and continues to be one of the largest reproductive populations in the Mediterranean. There are significant annual fluctuations, but also a clear upward trend in recent years. This trend depends entirely on the continuation of the protection of nests and hatchlings that has been implemented over the years.
Given the importance of all the above, ARCHELON makes the following recommendations:
- Strengthening Guarding and Legislation Enforcement
- Information and Awareness Campaign
- Completion and Improvement of the Special Environmental Study
- Implementation of the National Action Plan for the Loggerhead Sea Turtle
- Improvements to the Management Plan of the Ionian Marine Park
