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National Action Plan for the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta Caretta)

Caretta Caretta is a species of EU prioritized interest, protected under Directive 92/43/EEC, the Bern Convention, the Barcelona Convention, and national legislation (Presidential Decree 67/1981, Law 3937/2011).

Greece hosts significant nesting populations, making it one of the main nesting areas for the species in the Mediterranean region.

Within the framework of the LIFE EUROTURTLES – IP project, a National Action Plan for the Caretta Caretta sea turtle was developed and officially adopted through the corresponding procedures, aiming for:

• the strengthening of the protection of critical habitats (nesting beaches, migratory routes, foraging marine areas),
• the addressing of human-induced threats (such as disturbances at the beaches, bycatch in fishing gear, and collisions with vessels),
• the monitoring of populations and trends, and
• the collaboration with local communities and professionals (such as fishers and tourism entrepreneurs).

The Plan is based on scientific data, good management practices, and targeted long-term conservation actions.

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The Ministerial Decision is available here .

The full text of the Action Plan is available here .