Protecting sea turtle nesting activity - Koroni

The beach of Zaga-Memi near Koroni hosts an average of 200 loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) nests
each year. Join our efforts to ensure this small sea turtle population continues to thrive, especially in the
face of climate change.
Join a Small Team with a Big Impact Work alongside a dedicated team of 10–15 volunteers to
protect local turtles, raise awareness, and build meaningful, long-lasting connections with the Koroni
community.
Immerse Yourself in the Life on the Greek Coast Stay in the charming coastal town of Koroni,
famous for its Venetian castle, and explore the golden sandy beaches that surround it. Nearby, you can
visit Kalamata, Areopoli, and other picturesque Greek coastal towns.
Share Skills, Stories, and Memories Stay at the Koroni Field Station, a private campground inside
Camping Koroni. Experience communal living, receive full training, and participate in sea turtle
monitoring, public awareness, and fundraising tasks in rotating weekly shifts. Build lifelong friendships
while contributing to vital conservation work.

From June to late September every year, volunteers of all ages and backgrounds from all over the world participate in ARCHELON’s sea turtle conservation program in Koroni. The activities vary depending on the season (nesting season: mid-June through mid-August, hatching season: mid-July through mid-September) and include the following:
• ‘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 animal predation, 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
• ‘Patrolling’ the beaches during the day to raise bathers’ awareness of the importance of the nesting beaches.
• Following the protocol for dealing with injured or dead sea turtles, if necessary.