Limassol: A total of 224 turtle nests were recorded on beaches within the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) this year, underscoring the success of long-term conservation efforts.
According to Cyprus News Agency, this milestone was achieved between May and October and reflects over two decades of committed, science-led protection of endangered Green (Chelonia mydas) and Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtles.
The SBAs employ a ‘minimum-intervention’ conservation protocol, focusing on preserving natural habitats, limiting human interference, and enforcing protective legislation under the EU-aligned Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife Ordinance. Violators face fines of up to £17,000 and imprisonment of up to three years for disturbing nests or turtles.
The conservation program’s backbone includes daily patrols, the use of aluminum nest cages to deter predators, and strict regulations on beach activities, which are largely credited for the increase in nests. Alexia Perdiou, Senior Policy and Enforcement Officer at the SBAs Environment Department, stated that the current success is the result of consistent, science-based protection measures that began over two decades ago.
British and Cypriot volunteers within the SBAs and the Republic of Cyprus have also contributed to the success, along with a close working relationship with Terra Cypria, an NGO that coordinates volunteer efforts along Lady’s Mile beach. As the nesting season concludes, the SBAs reaffirm their commitment to safeguarding one of the Mediterranean’s most important turtle nesting habitats, ensuring that future generations of turtles continue to return to these protected shores.