Spain continues to be committed to the conservation of sea turtles. Technicians from the regional administrations, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge and researchers have today taken the first steps to develop the Strategy for the conservation of the common turtle (Caretta caretta) and other sea turtles that use Spanish waters as feeding, development, reproduction or transit areas on their long transoceanic journeys.
Within the framework of the LIFE INTEMARES project, and with the support of the Regional Activity Centre for the Protocol on Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean (RAC/SPA) of the Barcelona Convention, a workshop is being held today in Madrid to collect the latest available technical and scientific information on sea turtles, as well as to share and prioritise conservation measures, monitoring actions and lines of research to be included in this future strategy. These guidelines will serve as the basis for the conservation and management actions carried out by the different administrations involved.
Increased nesting
In Spain, six of the seven species of sea turtles have been observed. Loggerhead, leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochely simbricata), olive ridley (Lepidochely skempii) and olive ridley (L. olivácea) turtles are characterized by being highly migratory species. The pressures and impacts derived from human activities threaten their populations, including habitat loss and degradation, interactions with various fisheries, pollution, marine litter or climate change.
The Caretta caretta species is the most common in Spanish waters. In recent years, the frequency of juveniles and adults on the Spanish Mediterranean coast has increased.
In addition, the dozens of nesting events that have occurred on the Spanish Mediterranean coast in recent years suggest that we could be facing a colonization process, motivated by the increase in the temperature of the sea and beaches. Sea turtles usually lay their eggs on the beaches where they were born, so the success of hatching the eggs and survival of the hatchlings will determine that they return to our coasts to nest and thus favor the conservation of the species.
According to experts, the number of nests on the Spanish Mediterranean coast is greater than what is known, so it is necessary to promote measures that contribute to their detection and guarantee their survival.
Coordinated work
LIFE INTEMARES has promoted various actions to strengthen its protection in a coordinated manner between the administrations, the scientific community and the recovery centres, among other agents involved. Along these lines, an action protocol for sporadic nesting events is being finalized. Studies have also been carried out to analyse the environmental characteristics of the Spanish beaches chosen by turtles for spawning and training sessions have been carried out on the action on beaches in the face of potential nesting events, as well as awareness campaigns.
The LIFE INTEMARES project, coordinated by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, aims to achieve effective management of the marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network.
The General Directorate of Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea of the same ministry, the IEO, the Spanish Fisheries Confederation, SEO/BirdLife and WWF-Spain participate as partners. It has the financial contribution of the European Union’s LIFE programme, among other sources of funding.
