The Department of Environment, through the LIFE Cyclamen project, together with the LIFE Euroturtles’ project team released two sea turtles on Wednesday July 14th, 2021. The release took place at the Cyprus Marine Aquaculture Research Center – which also functions as a Turtle Rescue Center – of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research in Meneou.
“Androniki”, a Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and “Emma”, a Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta), were found injured by citizens and were transported to the Sea Turtle Rescue Center of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research. After receiving treatment for several months, the sea turtles can now swim freely in the Mediterranean Sea.
The turtle release took place under the LIFE Euroturtles project, which is funded by the EU’s LIFE Programme. The aim of LIFE Euroturtles is to improve the conservation status of the EU populations of the two sea turtle species of the Mediterranean, Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas. In addition, the project aims to reduce the impact of anthropogenic threats, particularly fishery-related, by the accidental trapping of turtles in fishing gears.
Numerous actions take place under the framework of the LIFE Euroturtles project. For example:
- Drones are used to detect turtle nests, which are then protected.
- Rescue Kits were distributed to the District Offices of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research for tackling incidents of turtle injuries.
- A 24 hour sea turtle hotline was introduced to be used when spotting an injured or dead turtle, as well as the «eTurtle» app for reporting the sighting of turtles by citizens, aiming at the better protection of the species.
- A Protocol of Actions on finding a turtle nest was created.
- Ghost gears were tracked and removed from the sea, as they pose a serious threat to sea turtles.
The LIFE Euroturtles project involves nine partners from six countries of the Mediterranean. More specifically, the Cypriot beneficiaries are the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the Oceanography Center of the University of Cyprus.
The LIFE Programme, which is funding the LIFE Euroturtles’ project, is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. It contributes to the implementation and development of EU policy and legislation. Beneficiaries of the LIFE Programme are pubic bodies, non-governmental organisations, universities, research centers and institutes, private companies, as well as startups. The National Contact Point for the LIFE Programme in Cyprus is the Department of Environment.
Turtle release – LIFE Euroturtles