05 Apr
2006 - Crete, Greece – Uncontrolled tourism and
rapid development of Greece’s beaches continue
to effect the long-term survival of the largest
nesting population of Mediterranean loggerhead
turtles on the Greek island of Zakynthos.
Some 800–1,100 loggerhead nests
can be found in the National Marine Park of Zakynthos,
but poor management and lack of government support
is threatening the future of this endangered marine
turtle.
“The situation on Zakynthos
is totally unacceptable,” said Demetres Karavellas,
WWF-Greece's Chief Executive Officer. “Violations
within the protected area happening summer after
summer. As loggerhead females always return to
the same nesting ground, it is crucial that their
natural nesting habitats are protected.”
In January 2002, the European
Court of Justice declared that Greece had failed
to protect the loggerhead turtles in Zakynthos
and was in violation of European Union law. WWF
and other organizations focused on sea turtle
conservation in the Mediterranean believe that
the Greek government has not been enforcing a
European Union decision to implement effective
measures to protect the endangered loggerhead
turtles.
Loggerhead females start coming
ashore to nest at the end of May and finish nesting
by the end of July. The peak of the tourist season
coincides with the start of the hatching of the
turtle eggs in August.
“The Greek government is taking
little to no measures to stop illegal beach development
and tourists from flooding the nesting beaches
which will result in the destruction of the nesting
area,” added Gerald Dick, WWF’s European Species
Coordinator.
“To safeguard the nesting sites,
the government must ensure that existing legal
measures are enforced, minimize the impact of
the tourist industry and provide adequate support
to the already established management authority.”
These issues are being put to
the Greek goverment at the annual Symposium on
Sea Turtle Conservation & Biology taking place
in Crete, Greece from 2-8 April.
END NOTES:
• The loggerhead turtle (Caretta
caretta) is one of the two marine turtle species
that reproduce in the Mediterranean. The other
species is the green turtle, which nests in Turkey
and Cyprus.
• The National Marine Park of
Zakynthos (NMPZ) was established in 1999 for the
conservation of marine turtles and the sustainable
development of the island. WWF-Greece and the
NGO Archelon are represented on the management
body of the NMPZ.
