Protecting sea turtle nesting activity - Chania

The project involves 14 km of nesting beach on the north western side of the island, very close to the medieval town of Chania. ARCHELON volunteers protect and monitor the nesting female turtles, the nests and hatchlings, and promote cooperation with local communities, authorities and the tourist industry in order to ensure the long-term conservation of the area. In addition, ARCHELON volunteers inform approximately 25,000 local residents and visitors each year about sea turtles and the threats to their existence on the island of Crete.

The activities vary depending on the season (nesting season: mid-May through mid-August, hatching season: mid-July through mid-September):
• ‘Patrolling’ the beaches every day (Morning observation), during which loggerhead reproductive activity is recorded.
• Protecting the nests in situ (with ‘fencing’) from both human activity and/or predation by mammals, and relocation of nests, when necessary.
• Constructing special ‘shading’ structures to guide hatchlings to the sea in areas where artificial light (from roads, shops, etc) may disorient the hatchlings when they emerge from the nest.
• Excavating nests after the hatchlings have emerged, in order to estimate the hatching success.
• Increasing public awareness of both tourists and local residents by operating a seasonal information station in the old city of Chania, manning information tables, and organizing presentations in hotels or other places.
• ‘Patrolling’ the beaches during the day to raise bathers’ awareness of the importance of the nesting beaches.
• Driving, maintaining equipment, maintaining the camp and its facilities (i.e. cleaning, etc.) and various jobs such as painting and carpentry. Artistic skills such as drawing and photography can also be quite useful.
• Following the protocol for dealing with injured or dead sea turtles, if necessary.

Volunteers must be prepared to take part in a communal life, and to live and work in both populated and secluded areas, often as members of small teams and usually under harsh conditions. Although relevant experience is not necessary, the ability to live and co-operate with people of different cultures and backgrounds is essential.