The green turtle is included in Annex II of the Habitats Directive and is considered a priority species. Although it has not led to the declaration of any Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in the Canary Islands, some of the management plans confirm its presence and contemplate measures aimed at increasing knowledge about this species.

This project arises to respond to this need and its objectives are:

• To compile and update information on the green turtle in the Canary Islands.
• Know the origin of individuals, the type and use of the habitat.
• Define the link between the species and this geographical region.
• To explore the relationship between the species and the SACs.
• Identify pressures and threats that it suffers.

The results of this project will provide the necessary information to meet the objectives proposed in the management plans, and will also contribute to providing information for the Spanish Inventory of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity (IEPNB).

The initiative is characterized by being a multidisciplinary project where different and innovative tools are integrated, including satellite telemetry, genetic analysis, study of epibionts, stable isotopes and toxicology. This information will fill important gaps in the biology and ecology of the green turtle.

Scientific and informative information on their presence and distribution in the waters surrounding the Canary Islands will be compiled. The origin of these specimens will also be determined for the first time, in addition to analysing the relationship between the animals captured at sea and those entered into the wildlife centres.

Finally, the role of this area of the Atlantic in the life cycle of the species will be studied in depth and the diet and type of habitat used during its stay in these waters will be studied, with special interest in the SACs.