Title:

Conservation of Marine Turtle in the Mediterranean

Total duration:

2017 – 2022

Beneficiary countries:

Albania, Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Türkiye, Spain.

Context and objectives of the Project:

The project aims to support the creation of monitoring networks and tools as well as a sustainable management plan for marine turtles and their habitats in the Mediterranean, through the implementation of monitoring protocols harmonized with the Ecosystem Approach guidelines, while adopting a participatory and integrated approach that takes into account both local socio-economic and environmental contexts.

The planned activities are in line with SPA/RAC mission to support the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention in the implementation of the SPA/BD Protocol, the Strategic Action Programme for the conservation of Biological Diversity (SAPBIO) in the Mediterranean Region, and the Regional Action Plan for the conservation of Marine Turtles in the Mediterranean.

Activities:

In order to satisfy its objectives, the Project outlines 5 key strategies:

• Strategy A: Applied research and monitoring actions on nesting sites and marine hotspots of marine turtles and their habitats while taking into account local environmental and socio-economic contexts.
• Strategy B: Reinforce coordination among concerned partners including decision-makers, scientists and MPA Managers. The aim is to implement harmonized management plans and monitoring protocols following a participatory approach and in line with the EcAp Guidelines.
• Strategy C: Build capacities for relevant stakeholders on the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats through training, exchanging, awareness and sharing of experience and information.
• Strategy D: Improve the management and the protection of nesting sites.
• Strategy E: Reduce the illegal trade of sea turtles’ products including through education, raising awareness and communication.

Partners of the project:

Archelon, DEKAMER, MEDASSET, MedPAN, NMPZ, WWF Greece, WWF Turkiye, WWF North Africa.

National partners of the project:

APAL, INSTM, Notre Grand Bleu, Association Tunisienne de la Vie Sauvage, Association Jlij pour l’Environnement Marin, Association des Fans de la Chebba, Environmental General Authority of Libya (EGA), Egyptian Environment Affair Agency (EEAA), Ministry of Environment of Lebabon (MoE), Ministère de l’Energie, des Mines et de l’Environnement Marocain (MEME), Ministère de l’Environnement et des Energies Renouvelables Algérien (MEER), AHE.

Funding:

The marine turtles project is financially supported by the MAVA Foundation.

Learn more:

Please visit the project's website to learn more about the activities carried out: https://medmarineturtles.org

Impacts of the project are presented in the evaluation report available on the MAVA website: https://mava-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/MAVA-M7-EN-Turtles-FINAL.pdf

For more information, please contact:

Lobna BEN NAKHLA
Programme officer, species conservation
lobna.bennakhla@spa-rac.org

Atef LIMAM
Projects officer
atef.limam@spa-rac.org