The Chelonia Association is developing a loggerhead turtle conservation project in the Valencian Community and the Gulf of Cadiz.

The Chelonia Association launched the project “Conservation of Caretta caretta in the Valencian Community and Gulf of Cadiz: habitat use and updating of the status of populations as a contribution to the national conservation strategy of the species” with the support of the Biodiversity Foundation.

Currently , the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) is under serious threats due to accidental capture, pollution and habitat deterioration. The Valencian Community and the Gulf of Cadiz are very important regions as they are areas of passage, feeding and rest for Atlantic and Mediterranean individuals. The project is expanding knowledge about habitat use and movement patterns of the species (with satellite transmitters). It also delves into ethological experimentation applied to reduce the impacts that stimuli from human activities have on the species. In addition, the use of drones is being evaluated through experimental tests in the Gulf of Cadiz as a viable means of carrying out censuses of sea turtles, as well as marine mammals. This project continues with the research initiated in 2016 by the Chelonia Association in collaboration with the Biodiversity Foundation, the Generalitat Valenciana, the Oceanogràfic de Valencia and the Xaloc Association to increase the knowledge of sensory aspects of the loggerhead turtle that allow identifying measures to reduce the attraction to stimuli derived from human activities. The activity takes place at the “Arca del Mar” Recovery Centre of the Oceanogràfic in Valencia.

This project has made it possible to tag three specimens of loggerhead turtles to study the patterns of movement and habitat use of the species in the western Mediterranean. In addition, a new line of research has been implemented in Spain, studying loggerhead turtle populations through the use of remotely piloted aircraft (drones). The dissemination actions of the project have made it possible to reach a large part of the population through the course of identification and detection of turtle tracks, the development of a website and the dissemination material edited and distributed in sectors related to fishing, educational centers and public administrations in the Valencian Community and Andalusia.