Marine Turtle Conservation and Research Project

The Marine Turtle Conservation and Research Project in Cyprus is a national programme of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. It was launched in 1978 after two years of surveys and it is the first turtle conservation programme in the Mediterranean. 

MedTRACS is responsible for implementation of field conservation and research activities under this project, including long-term monitoring and protection of marine turtle nesting sites in Cyprus.

The project focuses on the main nesting populations of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and is carried out at key nesting areas such as the Lara–Toxeftra region of the Akamas Peninsula, Chrysochou Bay, and beaches in the Larnaca district.

Field activities include systematic monitoring of nesting activities and threats, nest protection measures, the collection of long-term data on nesting activity and reproductive success and of data on stranded dead or injured turtles. The programme also contributes scientific data to national conservation planning and Mediterranean-level monitoring efforts.

Public awareness and outreach activities are also supported as part of the programme, contributing to improved understanding of marine turtle conservation in Cyprus.