VENIZELOS, L. 2000. Ten years of marine turtle conservation in the Mediterranean (1989-1999). Proceedings of the 20th International Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation (29 Feb. - 4 March 2000) (in press).
TEN YEARS OF MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN (1989-1999) L. Venizelos MEDASSET: The Mediterranean Association to Save Sea Turtles, c/o 24 Park Towers, 2 Brick Str., London W1Y 7DF, UK INTRODUCTION From the seven species of marine turtles that occur in the world, three are frequently found in the Mediterranean: the loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas) that have nesting beaches and the visiting leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea). MEDASSET, the Mediterranean Association to Save Sea Turtles, was set up in 1988 to protect the remaining populations of marine turtles in the Mediterranean. Since 1989, ten areas have been assessed from Sardinia to the N.E. Aegean Sea and from the Ionian Sea to the shores of Egypt and Libya, covering 7,300 km. Financial support came from various sources, including the EC and international intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations. After ten years of conservation work, it is seen that the main problems are the non-implementation of legislation protecting marine turtles, tourism development and fisheries interactions. Public awareness campaigns, environmental education programmes and lobbying of involved parties are thus vital to keep this subject in the limelight to instigate positive action by the appropriate authorities. METHODS In the period 1990-1999, MEDASSET has surveyed coastal areas with previously unknown or unconfirmed levels of marine turtle nesting. This is to target areas that are in need of specific protection with regard to marine turtles, whether it is for nesting or offshore populations (see figure 1). Figure 1. MEDASSET Research Activities 1989-1999.