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COLLECTIVE ACTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF THE EU SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS: BORDERING AREAS

Reference: LIFE18 NAT/IT/000103 | Acronym: LIFE MEDTURTLES

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The project targets the EU populations of two sea turtle species, Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas, which are listed as a priority for conservation in both Annex II and IV of the Habitats Directive. The EU population of Caretta caretta breeds mainly in Greece and Cyprus, with minor nesting sites in Italy and Spain, while its foraging areas occur in the wide continental shelves of the Adriatic and off Tunisia, as well as in the Aegean and along the north Africa coast. The EU population of Chelonia mydas breeds in Cyprus and its foraging areas occur in Turkey, Greece, Albania and north Africa up to Tunisia. Nesting sites are threatened by habitat loss caused by the development of tourism, intensive beach use, and by predation from animals favoured by human presence. At foraging grounds, sea turtles are incidentally caught and killed in high numbers by fishing gear, especially trawl nets, longlines and set nets.


OBJECTIVES

The MEDTURTLES project, a geographical extension of LIFE EUROTURTLES (LIFE15 NAT/HR/000997), aims to improve the conservation status of the EU populations of the Habitats Directive priority sea turtle species Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas.

The project will: 1) reduce the impact of anthropogenic threats at foraging grounds, with priority to trawl and set nets in Spain, Italy, Tunisia, Turkey and Albania; 2) reduce the impact of anthropogenic threats at nesting sites in Spain and Albania, in order to (i) guarantee a suitable nesting and incubation habitat for the future, including climate change effects, and (ii) allow a high production of newborns recruiting to their populations; 3) set up a consistent approach for the conservation of the EU sea turtle populations, to optimise current and future efforts and resources in the EU; 4) set up a network of research and conservation organisations for sea turtle conservation among key actors in EU and relevant non-EU countries, based on common objectives and methods; and 5) promote among EU and non-EU citizens the concept of shared Mediterranean sea turtle populations and of the common heritage of natural marine resources of which sea turtles are excellent and charismatic flagship species.

The conservation status of the two turtle species was considered as unfavourable at EU level by the most recent assessment, the Habitats Directive reporting process (Article 17) in EU 27 for the period 2007-2012. In addition to the Habitats Directive, the project contributes to the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 (Targets 1, 4, 6) addressing conflicts between sea turtle conservation and fishermen through several and synergic approaches: best practices, voluntary fishery management, and fishing gear modifications.

The project contributes to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSDF), since it aims to identify sea turtle hot-spots.

The project also has several actions specifically targeting fisheries and contributes to areas of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) relating to bycatches and measures to minimise the impact of fishing on the marine ecosystem.


RESULTS

Expected results:

  • inclusion in the same operational network (initially set up by LIFE EUROTURTLES) of the most active teams working on sea turtle conservation in 10 EU and non-EU Mediterranean countries relevant for sea turtle conservation (Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey);
  • nest protection activities established in Spain (including artificial incubation on protected beaches) and Albania, resulting in six more nests successfully protected per year;
  • 114 fishing boats involved in voluntary fishery management to avoid 5 turtle hot-spot areas (in Albania, Turkey, Tunisia, Italy, Spain);
  • 905 fishing boats in 37 ports in five countries (Albania, Turkey, Tunisia, Italy, Spain) informed about onboard best practices to reduce sea turtle mortality;
  • modified fishing gear (trawl and set nets) to reduce turtle catch introduced in 5 countries (Albania, Turkey, Tunisia, Italy, Spain) and modified longlines introduced in Tunisia, through a minimum of 73 fishing boats.Two turtle friend ports promoted, where two types of gear modifications will be implemented (in Italy);
  • seven coastal foraging areas in three countries (Albania, Tunisia, Turkey) cleaned of ghost fishing gear, and a code of conduct regarding ghost fishing promoted in all 5 countries;
  • bins for collection of damaged gears placed in 21 ports in four countries;
  • four sea turtle rescue centres upgraded, and 2 new first aid centres and rescue networks set up in 4 countries (Albania, Turkey, Tunisia, Italy), resulting in their capacity to treat more than 105 additional turtles per year (420 during the project and more afterwards);
  • public awareness of sea turtle conservation raised through 146 public events, 25 conferences, promotional items and a variety of media;
  • a citizen-science initiative covering 10 Mediterranean countries and accessible through a web platform; and
  • report and guidelines on the best practices suitable for sea turtle conservation in EU and other Mediterranean countries.
  • ADMINISTRATIVE DATA


    Reference: LIFE18 NAT/IT/000103
    Acronym: LIFE MEDTURTLES
    Start Date: 01/09/2019
    End Date: 31/08/2024
    Total Eligible Budget: 2,988,888 €
    EU Contribution: 2,232,888 €

    CONTACT DETAILS


    Coordinating Beneficiary: Universit di Pisa Dipartimento di Biologia
    Legal Status: PAT
    Address: Via L. Ghini 13, 56126, Pisa,
    Contact Person: Paolo Casale
    Email: Send Email
    Website: Visit Website


    LIFE Project Map

    ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ADDRESSED

    THEMES

    • Reptiles

    KEYWORDS

    • marine conservation area
    • monitoring
    • environmental awareness
    • endangered species
    • environmentally responsible behaviour
    • fishing industry

    TARGET EU LEGISLATION

    • Directive 2008/56 - Framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) (17.06.2008)
    • Directive 92/43 - Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora- Habitats Directive (21.05.1992)
    • COM(2011) 244 final “Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020” (03.05.2011)

    BENEFICIARIES

    Name Type
    FC(Fondazione Cetacea onlus), Italy Participant
    UVEG(Universitat de València), Spain Participant
    PSCA(Pamukkale Bilim Merkezi Derneği), Turkey Participant
    FSS(Faculté des Sciences de Sfax), Tunisia Participant
    HAS(Herpetofauna Albanian Society (Shoqata Herpetofauna Shqiptare)), Albania Participant

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