Kyparissia Bay: ARCHELON Records 6,100 Nests and Calls on the State to Immediately Implement the National Action Plan for the Loggerhead

The annual report of the ARCHELON Program for 2025 highlights the Kyparissia Gulf as an area of high importance for loggerhead sea turtles.

Kyparissia Bay, together with Laganas Bay in Zakynthos, is home to over 57% of the loggerhead turtle nests in the European Union, while the area has had one of its most productive years in recent decades. Specifically, in 2025, approximately 6,100 nests were recorded, a number that marks a 74% increase compared to the average of the previous 12 years. This success is the result of many years of systematic nest and hatchling protection implemented by ARCHELON since 1992.

However, despite the positive signs, ARCHELON draws attention to the continuing anthropogenic pressures, such as fishing activity and human presence during the night hours, and calls on the state to take appropriate protective measures. Specifically, the following is required:
First, immediate implementation of the National Action Plan for Sea Turtles (2021) so that, among other things, the necessary and essential financial support is provided to ARCHELON to continue its activities of recording and protecting nests and hatchlings. It should be noted that all actions to record and protect nests and hatchlings in the Gulf of Kyparissia are covered exclusively by ARCHELON’s own resources, while there are no management and surveillance actions for the protected area by the competent authorities.

Secondly, to speed up the procedures for the establishment and implementation of the Management Plan for the already established Nature Protection Area of Kyparissia Gulf, in order to ensure the long-term survival of sea turtles and the conservation of the protected coastal habitats included in it.

A clearly defined legislative framework is necessary for the effective protection of sea turtles. In this regard, the Ionian Marine Park, which is currently under development, is a positive development, but it is important to note the complementary nature of the two protected areas and the management of the marine and terrestrial coastal zone.