Review Article |
Corresponding author: Judith Ullmann ( jul007@post.uit.no ) Academic editor: Klaus Henle
© 2015 Judith Ullmann, Michael Stachowitsch.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Ullmann J, Stachowitsch M (2015) A critical review of the Mediterranean sea turtle rescue network: a web looking for a weaver. Nature Conservation 10: 45-69. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.10.4890
|
A key issue in conservation biology is recognizing and bridging the gap between scientific results and specific action. We examine sea turtles—charismatic yet endangered flagship species—in the Mediterranean, a sea with historically high levels of exploitation and 22 coastal nations. We take sea turtle rescue facilities as a visible measure for implemented conservation action. Our study yielded 34 confirmed sea turtle rescue centers, 8 first-aid stations, and 7 informal rescue institutions currently in operation. Juxtaposing these facilities to known sea turtle distribution and threat hotspots reveals a clear disconnect. Only 14 of the 22 coastal countries had centers, with clear gaps in the Middle East and Africa. Moreover, the information flow between centers is apparently limited. The populations of the two species nesting in the Mediterranean, the loggerhead Caretta caretta and the green turtle Chelonia mydas, are far below historical levels and face a range of anthropogenic threats at sea and on land. Sea turtle rescue centers are acknowledged to reduce mortality in bycatch hotspots, provide a wealth of scientific data, and raise public awareness. The proposal for a Mediterranean-wide rescue network as published by the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas a decade ago has not materialized in its envisioned scope. We discuss the efficiency, gaps, and needs for a rescue network and call for establishing additional rescue centers and an accompanying common online database to connect existing centers. This would provide better information on the number and types of rescue facilities on a Mediterranean scale, improve communication between these facilities, enhance standardization of procedures, yield large-scale data on the number of treated turtles and their injuries, and thus provide valuable input for targeted conservation measures.
Mediterranean Sea, marine turtles, conservation, rescue facilities, first aid, rehabilitation, information management, networking, awareness raising
Conservation biology is called upon to help translate scientific knowledge into specific action. Bridging this gap has been abetted by a new era of scientific endeavor (
The Mediterranean is a historically overexploited marginal sea (
Fisheries bycatch, boat strikes, intentional killing, and entanglement in marine debris including ghost gear have been identified as the main threats at sea (
The resident Mediterranean loggerhead population is genetically isolated (
The importance of dedicated rescue facilities for sea turtles was recognized during the 1980s (
The most obvious function of STRCs and FASTs is the rescue and rehabilitation of individual turtles. STRCs, though “in the last line of defense”, are a management tool that acts on a number of fronts. Firstly, they help increase adult and subadult survival rates, a major priority in conservation action (
Despite these efforts, clear gaps remain in the protection of Mediterranean sea turtles. In trawl fisheries, for example, proven management strategies such as turtle excluder devices (TEDs) are not routinely employed (
We take the number of rescue facilities as a visible measure for practical progress in sea turtle conservation and provide an update on currently operating facilities (STRCs, FASTs, informal or temporary institutions) with verified contact details and information on the history of each center (Table
Sea turtle rescue facilities in the Mediterranean. Based on literature search, available internet data, and personal communications. All listed websites were last accessed on 8 Feb. 2015, with final updates April 2015. All given contact details were confirmed by staff members of the respective rescue facilities, unless stated otherwise. Encompasses 20 countries bordering the Mediterranean, along with the islands of Cyprus and Malta (Northern Cyprus: self-declared state; Gibraltar: British Overseas Territory; Ceuta and Melilla: Spanish autonomous cities on the N. African coast). Countries and rescue facilities listed in alphabetical order. Italian rescue facilities ordered alphabetically by administrative region. Names of contact persons without academic titles. FAST, first-aid station; FI, figure icon: corresponding icon in Figs
Country | FI | Type | Contact details & additional information |
---|---|---|---|
Albania, ALB | ! | STRC | Planned for 2014: establishment of a STRC in Patok, NW-Albania, within the framework of the IPA Adriatic CBC Programme, co-funded by the EU (Sajmir Beqiraj, University of Tirana, personal communication, 8 Feb. 2014). |
Algeria, DZA | No data available. | ||
Bosnia–Herzegovina, BIH | — | No sea turtle rescue facilities (Tarik Kupusović, Hydro-Engineering Institute Sarajevo, personal communication, 24 July 2013). | |
Croatia, HRV | 1 | STRC | Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, Sea Turtle Rescue Center, Lošinj Marine Education Centre, Kaštel 24, 51551 Veli Lošinj, www.blue-world.org (section “News/July 2013”), Contact person: Jelena Basta (Education director), Email: info@blue-world.org, jelena.basta@blue-world.org, Tel.: (+385) 51–604666, Cell: (+385) 91–6046667. Opened on 19 July 2013. Part of NETCET (Network for the Conservation of Cetaceans and Sea Turtles in the Adriatic, co-funded by the EU IPA Adriatic CBC Programme), http://www.netcet.eu/. |
2 | STRC | Marine Educational Centre Pula, Marine Turtle Rescue Centre, Aquarium Pula, Fort Verudela, Verudela bb, 52105 Pula, http://www.aquarium.hr/, Contact person: Karin Gobić Medica, Email: infos@aquarium.hr, karin@aquarium.hr, Tel.: (+385) 52–381402, Cell: (+385) 91–1381414. Part of NETCET, http://www.netcet.eu/. | |
Cyprus, CYP | 3 | STRC | CyMARC, Cyprus Marine Aquaculture Research Center, c/o Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Marine Environment Division, Department of Fisheries & Marine Research (DFMR), 1416 Nicosia, http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/dfmr/dfmr.nsf/DMLAqa_en/DMLAqa_en, Contact persons: George Anastasiades (Responsible scientist), Email: director@dfmr.moa.gov.cy, Tel.: (+357) 24–422888, Marina Argyrou (Senior Fisheries and Marine Research Officer), Email: margyrou@dfmr.moa.gov.cy, Tel.: (+357) 22–807852. Located at Meneou, Larnaca; formerly known as Meneou Marine Research Station (MeMARS). |
Northern Cyprus, CTR | — | No sea turtle rescue facilities (Wayne Fuller, European University of Lefke, Society for the Protection of Turtles (SPOT), Marine Turtle Conservation Project (MTCP), personal communication, 25 Jan. 2014). | |
Egypt, EGY | ! | IRF | Monitoring takes place every year; veterinarians take care of injured and stranded sea turtles in the field (Moustafa Fouda, Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs, Nature Conservation Sector, personal communication, 21 Jan. 2014). |
France, FRA | 4 | STRC | Centre d´Etudes et de Sauvegarde des Tortues Marines de Méditerranée, Avenue du Palais de la Mer, BP 106, 30240 Le Grau-du-Roi, www.cestmed.org, Contact person: Jeanbaptiste Senegas, Email: contact@cestmed.org, Tel.: (+33) 4–66515737, Cell: (+33) 6–24475155. |
Corsica | ! | IRF | Local network dedicated to sea turtle research and rescue, http://www.corsenetinfos.fr/Un-reseau-d-alerte-tortues-marines-en-Corse_a10556.html. Part of the French Mediterranean Sea Turtle Network (Réseau Tortues Marines de Méditerranée Française, RTMMF, http://lashf.fr/laSHF/commissions/RTMMF). Ongoing collaboration with the nearby Sardinian STRC of Asinara (see Nr. 29) (Michel-Jean Delaugerre, personal communication, 21 April 2015). |
Gibraltar, GIB | ! | IRF | Helping Hand Trust, 10, Queensway Quay, http://www.helpinghand.gi/, Tel.: (+350) 200–73719, Emergency numbers: (+350) 200–72500, 199 (Police), or (+350) 200–65964 (Department of the Environment). Calls will be redirected to the rescue team. The organization takes care of sea turtles together with veterinarians from the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic and representatives of the Department of the Environment. (Stephen Warr, H.M. Government of Gibraltar, Department of the Environment, personal communication, 21 Jan. 2014). |
Greece, GRC | 5 | FAST | ARCHELON, Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece (STPS), First Aid Station, Amvrakikos Bay (Kopraina), http://www.archelon.gr/, Contact person: Pavlos Tsaros, Email: rescue@archelon.gr, Cell: (+30) 697–2877962. |
6 | FAST | ARCHELON, Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece (STPS), First Aid Station, Pagalohori of Rethymno, Arkadi, Crete, http://www.archelon.gr/, Contact person: Reggina Stefanatou, Email: archelon.crete@gmail.com, Cell: (+30) 693–7352379. | |
7 | STRC | ARCHELON, Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece (STPS), Sea Turtle Rescue Centre, 3rd Marina, Glyfada 16675, Athens, http://www.archelon.gr/, Contact person: Pavlos Tsaros, Email: rescue@archelon.gr, Tel.: (+30) 21–08944444, Cell: (+30) 694–1511511. | |
8 | STRC | Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes, Sea Turtle Rescue Centre, Cos Street, 85100 Rhodes, www.hcmr.gr, Contact person: Maria Corsini-Foka, Email: hsr@hsr-ncmr.gr, Tel.: (+30) 2241–027308, (+30) 2241–078320. | |
Israel, ISR | 9 | STRC | Israel Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, Mevo’ot Yam, Mikhmoret, http://old.parks.org.il/, Contact person: Yaniv Levy (Sea turtle project coordinator, STRC-Director, ISRAEL National Nature and Parks Authority), Email: Israelseaturtle@npa.org.il, yaniv@npa.org.il, Tel.: (+972) 9–8669173, Emergency number: *6911 (Speed dial service). |
Italy, ITA | National emergency numbers, toll free: 1530 (National Coast Guard), 800–904841 (Europ Assistance Service “SOS tartarughe”, http://www.europassistance.it/azienda/progetto-tartanet/). Calls will be redirected to the nearest rescue center. (Daniela Casprini, Associazione Vittime della Caccia, personal communication, 21 July 2013). | ||
Basilicata | 10 | STRC | Centro di recupero tartarughe marine di Policoro, Via Lido, 75025 Policoro (MT), Email: policoro@leganavale.it, Tel.: (+39) 0835–403814, Cell: (+39) 335–1272335, Contact person: Raffaele Micelli (Educational director), Cell: (+39) 335–1272336. Founded by the sailing club “Circolo Velico Lucano” in 1999, http://www.circolovelicolucano.it/ (news postings). Located in the Nature Reserve “Bosco Pantano”. http://www.tartanet.it/. |
11 | FAST | Oasi WWF Policoro Herakleia, Riserva Regionale “Bosco Pantano”, C.R.A.S. (Wildlife Rescue Center), Piazza Siris, Località Idrovora, 75025 Policoro (MT), http://www.oasiwwfpolicoro.net/, Contact person: Antonello Palmisano, Email: wwf.poli@gmail.com, Tel.: (+39) 0835–1825157. The center is part of WWF Italy’s Sea Turtle Network and provides first aid through a team of veterinarians and marine biologists. Temporary holding tanks are available. Turtles in need of surgery are transferred to the Veterinary Hospital of Bari. | |
Calabria | 12 | STRC | Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine Brancaleone, Piazza Stazione, Brancaleone Marina, 89036 Brancaleone (RC), http://www.naturalmentebrancaleone.org/, Email: naturalmentebrancaleone@gmail.com, Cell: (+39) 328–3020921, (+39) 340–1290736. (Simona Clò, formerly in charge of the now partly defunct rescue network “Tartanet”, personal communication, 27 Jan. 2014). |
13 | STRC | Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, Area Marina Protetta “Capo Rizzuto”, Centro Direzionale, Via C. Colombo, 88900 Crotone (KR), http://www.ampcaporizzuto.it/ (news postings), Email: segreteria@ampcaporizzuto.it, Tel.: (+39) 0962–665254, Contact person (administrative): Simone Scalise, Email: scalise@ampcaporizzuto.it, Contact persons (technical & scientific): Pierfrancesco Cappa, Domenico Piro (Veterinarian). The MPA has joined the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Sea Turtles (PATMA). It is collaborating with WWF Calabria, and the Universities of Calabria, Pisa, and Bari. The STRC was funded by the state, region, province, and the EU. It is run by MPA staff and through the help of volunteers. Turtles are rehabilitated in the Aquarium in Capo Rizzuto, where CEAM, the Environmental Education Center, pursues public information activities. | |
Campania | 14 | STRC | Centro di Recupero Tartarughe Marine di Punta Campanella, Via Padre Rocco 40, 80061 Massa Lubrense (NA), Email: cea@puntacampanella.org, Tel.: (+39) 081–8089877. http://www.tartanet.it/. |
15 | STRC | Sea Turtle Rescue Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, http://www.szn.it/SZNWeb/showpage/115?_languageId_=2, Contact person: Sandra Hochscheid, Email: sandra.hochscheid@szn.it, Tel.: (+39) 081–5833222. | |
16 | STRC | Turtle Point, Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Via Cocchia 28, 80124 Bagnoli (NA), http://www.szn.it/SZNWeb/showpage/115?_languageId_=2, Contact person: Sandra Hochscheid, Email: aquarium@szn.it, sandra.hochscheid@szn.it, Tel.: (+39) 081–7629338. Specialized in rehabilitation phase after treatment and prior to reintroduction into the wild. | |
Emilia–Romagna | 17 | STRC | ARCHE´, Via Mulinetto 40/a, 44100 Ferrara (FE), Email: archeturtle@tiscali.it, Tel.: (+39) 0532–767852. (Daniela Casprini, Associazione Vittime della Caccia, personal communication, 17 July 2013). |
18 | STRC | Fondazione Cetacea Onlus, Viale Torino 7/A, 47838 Riccione (RN), http://fondazionecetacea.org/, Contact person: Valeria Angelini, Email: informazione@fondazionecetacea.org, educazione@fondazionecetacea.org, Tel.: (+39) 0541–691557. Part of NETCET, http://www.netcet.eu/. | |
Friuli–Venezia Giulia | 19 | FAST | WWF Area Marina Protetta di Miramare, Cetacean and Sea Turtle Monitoring and First Aid Group, Viale Miramare 349, 34151 Grignano–Trieste (TS), http://www.riservamarinamiramare.it/ (news postings), Contact person: Francesco Zuppa, Email: info@riservamarinamiramare.it, zuppa@riservamarinamiramare.it, Tel.: (+39) 040–224147. Part of WWF Italy’s Sea Turtle Network. |
Puglia | 20 | STRC | Centro cura tartarughe marine, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Piazza Umberto I 1, 70121 Bari (BA), http://www.uniba.it/ricerca/dipartimenti/dipmedveterinaria/strutture/centro-cura-tartarughe-marine/, Emergency number, toll free: 800–883046. (Daniela Casprini, Associazione Vittime della Caccia, personal communication, 21 July 2013). |
21 | STRC | Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine del Salento, Parco Naturale Regionale Bosco e Paludi di Rauccio, 73100 Lecce (LE), http://www.salento.com/il-salento/varie/centro-recupero-tartarughe-marine-crtm-del-salento. (Chiara Caputo, CRTM Museo di Calimera, personal communication, 30 July 2013). http://www.tartanet.it/. | |
22 | STRC | Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine Manfredonia–Legambiente, Parco Nazionale del Gargano, Oasi Lago Salso, 71043 Manfredonia (FG). (Simona Clò, formerly in charge of the now partly defunct rescue network “Tartanet”, personal communication, 27 Jan. 2014). | |
23 | STRC | CRTM Museo di Calimera, SP 275 Calimera–Borgagne, km 1, 73021 Calimera (LE), http://www.msns.it/, Contact person: Chiara Caputo, Email: osservatorio.faunistico@msns.it, chiara.caputo@msns.it, Cell: (+39) 324–8898814, (+39) 320–6586558. | |
Sardegna | Public emergency number, toll free: 1515 (Sardinian Forest Service). In addition to national emergency numbers, see above. The nearest rescue team will be alerted. All of the following Sardinian rescue facilities operate within the Sardinian Regional Network for the Conservation of Marine Turtles and Mammals. | ||
24 | FAST | Area Marina Protetta di Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo, Via Dante 1, 07026 Olbia (OT), www.amptavolara.com, Contact person: Pier Panzalis, Email: ambiente@amptavolara.it, Office/Emergency Tel.: (+39) 0789–203013. Turtles in need of veterinary treatment will be transferred to CReS in Oristano (see Nr. 25). | |
25 | STRC | Area Marina Protetta “Penisola del Sinis—Isola di Mal di Ventre”, Centro di Recupero del Sinis delle tartarughe marine e dei cetacei (CReS), Office: Piazza Eleonora 1, 09072 Cabras (OR), Email: ambiente@areamarinasinis.it, Office Tel.: (+39) 0783–391097. Rescue center located at IAMC-CNR (National Research Council), Loc. Sa Mardini, 09170 Oristano (OR), http://www.areamarinasinis.it/, Contact person (administrative): Giorgio Massaro, Email: direzione@areamarinasinis.it, Cell (Emergency): (+39) 340–1096633, Contact person (technical & scientific): G. Andrea de Lucia (Scientific coordinator), Email: a.delucia@iamc.cnr.it, Cell (Emergency): (+39) 339–4654779. | |
26 | FAST | Centro di Primo Soccorso “Capo Carbonara”, Via degli Asparagi 51/a, 09049 Villasimius (CA), http://www.ampcapocarbonara.it/pagina.php?id=48, Contact persons (Biologists): Francesca Frau, M. Francesca Cinti, Fabrizio Atzori, Email: info@ampcapocarbonara.it, Tel.: (+39) 070–790234, Cell (Emergency): (+39) 320–4643038. The center, formerly a “node” of the regional rescue network, is presently in phase of acknowledgement as an official FAST by the Ministry of the Environment. Expected new address: Via degli Oleandri 6/b, 09049 Villasimius (CA). | |
27 | STRC | Centro Recupero Cetacei e Tartarughe marine “Laguna di Nora”, Centro di educazione ambientale Laguna di Nora, Laguna di Nora Loc. Nora, 09010 Pula (CA), http://www.lagunadinora.it/sezione.php?idsez=5, Contact person: Giuseppe Ollano, Email: info@lagunadinora.it, gollano@lagunadinora.it, Tel.: (+39) 070–9209544. The center is managed on behalf of the Municipality of Pula. | |
28 | FAST | First Aid Station, National Park “Arcipelago di la Maddalena”, http://www.lamaddalenapark.it/ (news postings), Email (NP Environmental Office): ufficio.ambiente@lamaddalenapark.org. The FAST is located in the park’s Environmental Education Center in Stagnali on Isola Caprera. Contact person: Yuri Donno, Tel.: (+39) 0789–790233. For 2014, regional funding was expected, and a new operational plan, regarding the coordination of wildlife rescue operations through a specialized company, was being devised. The NP will continue giving first aid and providing public information services. | |
29 | STRC | Parco Nazionale dell’Asinara, Area Marina Protetta “Isola dell’Asinara”, Centro Recupero Animali Marini, Cala Reale, Isola dell’Asinara, 07046 Porto Torres (SS), www.parcoasinara.org, http://www.cramasinara.org/, General information: parco@asinara.org, enteparcoasinara@pec.it, Emergency contact: Associazione CRAMA, which manages the rescue center on behalf of the NP. Email: info@cramasinara.org, Cell: (+39) 340–8161772. | |
Sicilia | ! | STRC | Centro Recupero Provinciale Fauna Selvatica e Tartarughe Marine, SP 29, 92011 Cattolica Eraclea (AG), Contact person: Calogero Lentini (Veterinarian), Email: aldolentini@alice.it, Additional information: http://www.tartanet.it/. The center was closed in Dec 2013. Reopening is planned but not scheduled yet. (Simona Clò, formerly in charge of the now partly defunct rescue network “Tartanet”, personal communication, 27 Jan. 2014). |
30 | STRC | Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine di Linosa, Via Pozzolana di Ponente 13, 92010 Linosa (AG), http://www.marineturtle.it/, Contact person: Stefano Nannarelli (Director), Email: Info@marineturtle.it, Tel.: (+39) 0922–972076. | |
31 | STRC | Centro Soccorso e Cura Tartarughe Marine, WWF Italia, Stazione Marittima 92010 Lampedusa (AG), http://www.lampedusaturtlegroup.org/, http://www.lampedusaturtlerescue.org/, Contact person: Daniela Freggi (Director), Email: dafregg@tin.it, Tel.: (+39) 338–2198533. | |
32 | STRC | DELPHIS Aeolian Dolphin Center, Via Simone Neri 1, 98050 S. Marina Salina, Isola di Salina, Isole Eolie (ME), http://www.delphisadc.it/, Contact person: Renata Mangano (Coordinator), Email: delphiscenter@gmail.com, Cell (Emergency): (+39) 333–1932002. DELPHIS takes care of sea turtles and cetaceans in the Aeolian Islands. | |
33 | FAST | Filicudi WildLife Conservation, Pronto Soccorso Tartarughe Marine dell´ Arcipelago Eoliano, Office: Località Stimpagnato, Isola di Filicudi, 98055 Lipari (ME), http://www.filicudiconservation.com/, Email: info@filicudiconservation.com, Cell: (+39) 349–4402021. The FAST is located at Hotel Phenicusa, Via Porto 7, 98050 Filicudi, Isole Eolie (ME). The Visitor Information Center is located in Piazzetta Pecorini Mare, Filicudi (ME). (Sources: http://www.filicudiconservation.com/, http://www.oraresortphenicusa.com/.) | |
34 35 | STRC | NECTON Marine Research Society, Office for East Sicily: Via Guido Gozzano 47, 95100 Catania; Office for West Sicily: Via Celona 11, 98165 Ganzirri Messina; http://www.necton.it/, Contact person: Renata Mangano (Coordinator), Email: info@necton.it, Cell (Emergency): (+39) 333–1932002. | |
Toscana | ! | IRF | Acquario di Livorno, Piazzale Mascagni 1, 57127 Livorno (LI), http://www.acquariodilivorno.it/, Email: info@acquariodilivorno.it, Tel.: (+39) 0586–269111/154 (in case of emergency, ask for the Aquarium Department). The Aquarium takes care of injured and stranded sea turtles along the coast of Tuscany, together with Costa Edutainment’s veterinarians and specialists. It provides holding tanks for treatment and rehabilitation. The ultimate aim is the animals’ reintroduction into the wild. |
36 | STRC | Centro didattico WWF dei Ronchi, Centro di educazione ambientale e Centro recupero tartarughe marine, Via Donizetti, Località Ronchi, 54038 Marina Di Massa (MS), http://centrodidatticowwfronchi.wordpress.com/, Contact person: Gianluca Giannelli (Director), Email: parcodidattico@virgilio.it, Cell: (+39) 360–234789. Reopened on 3 August 2013. (Paolo Casale, Scientific coordinator of the Sea Turtle Project WWF Italy, personal communication, 29 Jan. 2014). | |
Lebanon, LBN | No data available. | ||
Libya, LBY | ? | STRC | Marine Biology Research Centre (MBRC) Tajura, PO Box: 30830 Tajura ( |
Malta, MLT | ! | IRF | Nature Trust Malta (www.naturetrustmalta.org) runs a temporary rehabilitation center located at Malta Aquaculture Research Centre, San Lucjan Tower, Marsaxlokk. A permanent center is planned at Xrobb I-Ghagin in Dellimara. Contact persons: Vincent Attard, Karen Goode, Responsible veterinarian: Anthony Grupetta, Email: info@naturetrustmalta.org, Cell (Emergency): (+356) 9999–9505. |
Monaco, MCO | 37 | STRC | Musée océanographique, Institut océanographique, Fondation Albert 1er, Prince de Monaco, Av. Saint-Martin, MC 98000 Monaco, http://www.oceano.mc/en/activities/activities-for-all-/-the-museum-involved-in-helping-turtles, Contact person: Pierre Gilles (Head of Aquarium), Email: p.gilles@oceano.mc, Tel.: (+377) 93153646. Part of the French Mediterranean Sea Turtle Network (Réseau Tortues Marines de Méditerranée Française, RTMMF). |
Montenegro, MNE | — | No sea turtle rescue facilities (Milena Bataković, Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro, Department for nature protection, monitoring, analysis and reporting, personal communication, 22 July 2013). | |
Morocco, MAR | ! | IRF | ATOMM (Association de protection des Tortues Marines au Maroc), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, PO Box 2121, Tétouan 93002 Morocco, http://www.atomm.org/, Contact person: Mustapha Aksissou (Director), Email: aksissou@yahoo.fr, Cell: (+212) 661–953689. |
Palestine, State of, PSE | No data available. | ||
Slovenia, SVN | ! | IRF | Aquarium Piran, Kidričevo nabrežje 4, 6330 Piran–Pirano, Tel.: (+386) 5–1602554, Contact person: Valter Žiža, Email: akvarij.piran@guest.arnes.si, Cell: (+386) 41–975386; Golob d.o.o., Zatočišče za živali prosto živečih vrst, Glavni trg 7, 2366 Muta, Tel.: (+386) 2–8761285, Contact person: Zlatko Golob, Cell: (+386) 41–518939. Veterinarians of the Wildlife Sanctuary “Zatočišče za živali prosto živečih vrst” take care of injured sea turtles. Aquarium Piran provides space for first aid treatment; it does not, however, have holding tanks for a longer rehabilitation phase. |
Spain, ESP | 38 | STRC | Centro de Recuperación de Animales Marinos de la Fundación CRAM, Passeig de la Platja 28–30, 08820 El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona), http://cram.org/, Contact person: Elsa Jiménez, Email: info@cram.org, vet@cram.org, Tel.: (+34) 937–524581. |
39 | STRC | Centro de Recuperación de Especies Marinas Amenazadas, CREMA, de Málaga, Calle Pacífico 80, 29003 Málaga, http://www.auladelmar.info/crema, Contact person: José Luís Mons Checa, Email: crema@auladelmar.info, Tel.: (+34) 952–229287, Emergency number: 112. | |
40 | STRC | Centro de Recuperación de Fauna La Granja de El Saler, Av de los Pinares 106, 46012 El Saler, Valencia, Contact person: Juan Eymar, Email: centre_granja@gva.es, Tel.: (+34) 96–961610847. Local government property. | |
Ceuta | No data available. | ||
Melilla | No data available. | ||
Syria, SYR | — | No sea turtle rescue facilities (Alan F. Rees, IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG) Regional Vice Chair for the Middle East Region, personal communication, 24 Jan. 2014). | |
Tunisia, TUN | 41 | STRC | National Institute for the Sciences and Technologies of the Sea (INSTM), Station de Protection et de Soin des Tortues Marines Monastir, Route de Khniss, 5000 Monastir, B.P. 59, Tel.: (+216) 73–531867, Contact persons: Kaouthar Maatouk, Email: maatoukk@yahoo.fr, Olfa Chaieb, Email: olfa.chaieb@instm.rnrt.tn. (Imed Jribi, University of Sfax, Faculty of Sciences, personal communication, 24 Jan./7 Feb. 2014). |
Turkey, TUR | 42 | STRC | DEKAMER, Sea Turtle Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Dalyan, Muğla, http://caretta.pamukkale.edu.tr/, Contact person: Yakup Kaska, Email: caretta@pau.edu.tr, dekamer@pau.edu.tr, Tel.: (+90) 252–2890077, Cell: (+90) 533–5735339. Affiliated with Pamukkale University. |
The next step involved obtaining full contact details by sending inquiries directly to the centers. When basic contact information was lacking or no data were available for a particular country, we sent inquiries to official institutions, i.e., ministries of the environment, animal welfare organizations, universities, and national park administrations. We also asked the rescue center contacts about other facilities in their vicinity.
We reviewed the peer-reviewed literature to identify the key distribution areas, i.e., nesting beaches, feeding and overwintering areas, foraging sites of juveniles, and major migration corridors, of loggerhead and green turtles.
We also reviewed the peer-reviewed literature to identify threat hotspots for sea turtles in the Mediterranean. Of the commonly acknowledged main threats, i.e., nesting habitat degradation, bycatch, ship strikes, and direct exploitation, we chose fisheries bycatch as a proxy for threats because: 1) it affects primarily older individuals and has great impact on population levels; 2) bycatch and its geographic distribution are quantifiable; 3) it occurs Mediterranean-wide and year-round; 4) its effects can be mitigated by STRCs. We briefly discuss the main deployment areas of the three critical fishing gear types, i.e., trawl, drifting longline, set nets (
To better visualize the geographic coverage of rescue facilities and its appropriateness, we compare current locations of rescue facilities to 1) key sea turtle distribution areas (Fig.
Current sea turtle rescue facilities in relation to nesting sites and distributional hotspots. Locations of rescue facilities are based on available internet data and personal communications; latest update: April 2015. Sea turtle distribution and nesting sites combined and modified in part after
Current sea turtle rescue facilities in relation to the proposed network and bycatch hotspots. Locations of rescue facilities are based on available internet data and personal communications; latest update: April 2015. Proposed network after
The literature and internet search for rescue facilities yielded 34 STRCs, eight FASTs, and seven informal or temporary rescue institutions (Table
Italy held 21 STRCs, six FASTs, and one informal rescue facility. Spain had three STRCs, Croatia and Greece each had two STRCs, the latter also featuring two FASTs. France held one STRC and a local rescue network in Corsica. Cyprus, Israel, Monaco, Tunisia, and Turkey held one STRC each. Malta held a temporary rehabilitation center. While Egypt, Gibraltar, Morocco, and Slovenia did not have any formal rescue facilities, injured turtles were cared for by veterinarians, local animal welfare organizations and rescue associations. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Northern Cyprus, and Syria had no facilities. Data for Libya were available but could not be verified. For Algeria, Lebanon, and the State of Palestine, no data on rescue facilities were found and no official institutions reached.
Ninety-nine percent of green turtle nesting takes place in Turkey and Cyprus (
Loggerhead reproductive habitats and main foraging grounds are concentrated in the wider eastern basin (
Continental shelves and slopes constitute the main adult loggerhead feeding areas (Fig.
In the central Mediterranean between Italy, Tunisia, and Libya, potential neritic and pelagic foraging habitats are close to each other (
The Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia, Libya) and the northern Adriatic with their wide shelves are also well-known resting and wintering areas (
The North African coast is apparently an important migratory pathway for loggerheads across the Mediterranean (
Nature conservation and species protection have developed in direct response to the deterioration of many habitats and the decline of many species. Nonetheless, there is a continuing gap between problem recognition in the form of scientific data and specific management actions. Moreover, the process is typically reactive rather than proactive. We proffer that this gap should be the narrowest for endangered flagship species in habitats that are well-defined and have a long history of scientific research. Sea turtles in the Mediterranean are a case in point. Just as the analysis of sea turtle protection coverage (based on nesting sites) revealed clear gaps on a global level (
Compared to the international conventions and protocols of the 1970s that first recognized the problems facing sea turtles in the Mediterranean, most STRCs and FASTs were founded quite late (Suppl. material
Compared to
Regarding type, RAC/SPA envisaged a network consisting of 16 rescue centers, each connected to between two and four emergency centers (Fig.
Regarding distribution,
More than half (28) of all facilities are concentrated in Italy. This is the best fit because the total estimated bycatch there (23,600 = 18%;
The deficits in STRC numbers and distribution no doubt partially reflect the different cultures, socio-economic status, funding priorities and perception of environmental issues of the 22 Mediterranean countries. It is further compounded by security issues in many countries (
What are the repercussions for the current status of Mediterranean sea turtles? Primarily, suboptimal species protection. Injured individuals with chances of survival are not being detected and not receiving the necessary veterinary care. Each adult turtle is thought to represent one surviving individual out of an estimated 500–1000 hatchlings that emerge from their nests on the beach. This, coupled with the life history of sea turtles—slow growth, long period before sexual maturity—means that every adult is very important. Considering the historical decline in sea turtle numbers and the present low numbers, the mortalities must be reduced. We must avoid the situation—known for cetaceans such as the vaquita in the Gulf of California, the Western Pacific gray whale, or the North Atlantic right whale—that further human-induced mortalities of any individual, in particular adult females, will jeopardize species or population survival (
What is the vision for the future and how can this be achieved? The goal must be to work toward a dense and evenly distributed rescue facility network. Communication between centers must be improved. This will not only help rescue individual sea turtles but will provide added benefits—in a positive feedback loop—for the other STRC functions, namely research and public outreach (
Such data could best be compiled using a common online database. This is a viable option based on our experience at the level of individual STRCs: most contacted rescue center staff were readily willing to help, seemed interested in information dissemination, and eager for news about other facilities. We therefore support setting up a “Mediterranean Sea Turtle Rescue Network Database” online, containing and updating all the basic information on rescue facilities (Table
Our review shows that sea turtle rescue facilities—as visible and measureable evidence of concrete conservation action—are characterized by a:
relatively late start in light of early conventions and protocols addressing sea turtle threats,
relatively late set of quality criteria,
slow increase in number,
patchy distribution with major unserviced regions,
often haphazard rather than problem-oriented correlation between sea turtle distribution/threat hotspots and rescue facility sites,
still insufficient number,
poor readily available information on and suboptimal communication between these facilities.
Information on the number of treated turtles and their injuries is essential input for further, well-targeted, and concerted conservation measures. At the same time, we must go beyond the often heard call for more data and apply common sense to the ongoing threatened status of sea turtles in the Mediterranean and elsewhere. Further action should not be delayed until further evidence has been collected. A functioning network of sea turtle rescue centers would be a good first step in this direction.
We would like to thank all those persons—many of whom are mentioned in Table
Stepping stones toward a Mediterranean sea turtle rescue network
Data type: species data
Explanation note: Historical outline of sea turtle protection in the Mediterranean.