A review and reappraisal of research in some previously unsurveyed Mediterranean marine turtle nesting sites, 1990-2001

One of MEDASSET's main objectives has been the assessment of coastal areas on a pan-Mediterranean scale in a search for potential nesting sites of Caretta caretta (loggerhead turtle) and Chelonia mydas (green turtle), the only two marine turtle species known to reproduce in the Mediterranean. The specific characteristics of each coastal region were logged, as turtles cannot be successfully protected unless all their reproductive habitats are known. If any important turtle nesting sites were found, recommendations for implementation of protective measures were made to the States involved, followed by efforts towards the implementation of protective legislation and conservation measures. These surveys took place in Sardinia, Italy (1990 & 1991), the North Aegean (mainland and islands), Greece (1991), the western part of the Egyptian Mediterranean coast (1993), Syria (1991), Libya (1995 & 1998) and Lebanon (2001). This review sums up data resulting from these pioneering studies and re-evaluates it in the light of more recent information regarding marine turtle nesting and conservation in the Mediterranean.