TURTLE WATCH
Anyone interested in Turtlewatch can contact Jimmy by e-mail or mobile: 99462308. E-mail carrolls@cytanet.com.cy.
All volunteers very welcome.
CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF TURTLES IN
CYPRUS
by Jim Carroll
A group of Volunteers are mainly responsible for the conservation programme, operating on the Akrotiri peninsula, Episkopi shore line and Pissouri beach.
Lara Beach (Akamas) is the main breeding area in Cyprus and is run by Dr Andreas Demetropoulos for the Cyprus Government. (Dept of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment).
The Mediterranean supports two species:
LOGGERHEADS (Caretta Caretta) and GREENS (Chelonia Mydas)..
The breeding season starts in Early June until the end of August, with hatching continuing into Sept/Oct. Incubation varies between 44 and 56 days. On average Loggerheads lay 85 eggs and Greens 120 per clutch.
Both species are protected with the green much more rare than the loggerhead. Unfortunately many die each year having been trapped in nets, swallowing plastic bags (mistaken for Jellyfish), or struck by boats.
During the nesting season the volunteers patrol their beach area early in the morning to look for signs of a nest. The tracks are quite distinct as it appears a small tractor has been up & down the beach. This is done on a rota basis so you will be required one morning a week.
If tracks are found the local co-ordinator is informed and he/she will check for a nest. Once identified the area will be protected by a small cage. This is to ensure foxes, dogs and sometimes humans do not interfere with the nest.
When hatching is due the volunteers are once again organised on a rota basis to monitor the nests overnight to insure that as many as possible make it into the sea. We try to minimise interference in order to maintain the turtles ability to return to the area of their birth when they become adults and return to breed.
Unfortunately due to plans for development of the Pissouri beach (Fishing Shelter) we will lose this valuable nesting area.
Should you wish to assist in this venture please feel free to contact me: Jim Carroll (99462308) for Pissouri or:
David & Linda Stokes (25325292) for Paramali and Episkopi area.
From Contact 76:
In case you come across a dead turtle, please note that they should be reported to the Fisheries Department (25 817312). This number is also in the Cyprus telephone list on the website.
However, it seems this is in no way an isolated incident. A query to Turtlewatch has brought the following information:
“There has been an alarming increase in turtle deaths during 2008 and 2009, which appears to be continuing into 2010. The average up to 2007 was about five or six deaths per year on our beaches. In 2008 we had 21 dead turtles; in 2009 the number was 28. In 2010 to date we have had 11 compared with six at the same time last year.
Akrotiri Turtlewatch shows the same pattern; between Episkopi and Akrotiri we had over 50 deaths in 2009, an unsustainable number. To put it into context, in the Republic of Cyprus 35 dead turtles were found in 2009.
Many of our casualties in recent years have been deliberately killed.
The SBA authorities and the Cyprus Fisheries Department deny that there is a problem. They say that the turtles are drifting into our waters from farther afield. This is nonsense.
You can read some background in the attached documents and at http://www.ukotcf.org/pdf/fNews/35.pdf (see page 10).
We are continuing to press for effective action but it is an uphill struggle. Please ask people to sign our online petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/episkopiturtlewatch/”.
David