In the waters of the Valencian Community there are six species of sea turtles registered, the most abundant is the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), whose specimens are seriously threatened by accidental captures, the contamination of the waters with solid waste and the deterioration of their habitat.

For this reason, the project “Conservation of Caretta caretta in the Valencian Community: habitat use and updating of the status of populations as a contribution to the National Strategy for the Conservation of the species”, launched by the Chelonia Association, seeks to increase knowledge about the use of the habitat and the movement patterns of the species. update the censuses of the same and carry out a study of applied ethology. All these actions will contribute to the conservation of the species within the framework of the National Strategy for the Conservation of the loggerhead turtle, a strategy that is in the development phase.

Within the initiative , a proposal for the conservation of the species in the Valencian Community will be drawn up and various training actions will be carried out for the identification of nests and traces of the presence of loggerhead turtle specimens on the beaches. In addition, the turtle’s movement patterns will be investigated and various awareness-raising actions will be undertaken.

The actions of the project will be carried out in the three Valencian provinces, Alicante, Castellón and Valencia, in the area of the coastal and marine-coastal strip. This area includes several coastal and marine protected natural areas, including the Illes Columbretes Marine Protected Area, the Ebro-Columbretes Delta Marine Area, the Cabo de la Nao Marine Platform-Slope and the Tabarca-Cabo de Palos Marine Area.