Sea turtle habitats in Greece, Cyprus & Turkey under threat: MEDASSET presents cases at the Bern Convention (Council of Europe)

For the 34^th year in succession, MEDASSET participated in the 42^nd Standing Committee Meeting of the Bern Convention (28 Nov. – 2 Dec. 2022). We presented the results of our sea turtle nesting beach surveys and reported on the progress of implementation of the Convention’s Recommendations. As a result, the Bern Convention Standing Committee adopted important  decisions to monitor several sea turtle habitats and urge Governments to improve protection.

GREECE

Southern Kyparissia Bay (Caretta caretta)

Find out more about the campaign here or or download our report .

Kyparissia Bay hosts one of the largest reproductive loggerhead turtle population across the Mediterranean.  Although the nesting beaches belong to an EU NATURA 2000 site, the Greek government has failed to introduce and enforce the necessary conservation and management measures, six years after the Bern Convention Recommendation (Dec. 2014) and four years after the condemning Judgment of the European Court of Justice (Nov. 2016). Enforcement of the Presidential Decree adopted in October 2018, affording legal protection to the site, is non-existent and we strongly reiterated the urgent need for the implementation of a Management Plan, as the Decree does not address several major issues. At the 2022 Bern Convention Standing Committee meeting, MEDASSET in collaboration with ARCHELON presented the continued degradation of the site and its inadequate management during the summer of 2022.

Threats recorded included ongoing construction of illegal buildings along the coastline, continued planting and farming of alien species on the nesting beaches and dunes, nearshore fishing, vehicular access to the nesting beaches, lack of beach furniture management and light pollution.

Decision: “[…] The Committee acknowledged the complainant’s ongoing concerns that a Management Plan has yet to be adopted and took note of the delays the government is facing. 

The European Commission also informed the Committee that a follow-up to the decision of 2021 of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to condemn Greece for failing to establish the necessary conservation objectives and measures for several sites of community importance, including Thines Kiparissias, was ongoing. In that framework, the Commission had urged the Hellenic authorities to finalize and adopt the Management Plan for the area as well as to establish the necessary conservation objectives and measures for the whole Natura 2000 network.

The Standing Committee recalled that despite national authorities’ initiatives (such as road blocking), the enforcement of relevant national laws was still low. The Committee urged the national authorities to fully implement Recommendation No. 174 (2014), in particular with reference to point 11 of the Recommendation. Acknowledging that the adoption of a Management Plan for this area is scheduled to be issued in 2023 by the national authorities after the conclusion of public consultations by the end of 2022, the Committee urged them to step up their efforts to adopt a Management Plan as soon as possible.

Finally, the Standing Committee thanked both parties for their cooperation on the ongoing marine turtles’ conservation initiative.  The file remains open. ”

Laganas Bay, Zakynthos (Caretta caretta)

Find out more about the campaign here or download our report.

With an average of 1.200 nests each season, Laganas bay hosts one of the most important breeding areas for the Caretta caretta in the Mediterranean. The sea turtles and their habitats in Zakynthos, though, remain under immense stress due to the intense touristic activity on the island, receiving more than 850,000 visitors each summer. The case was first brought to the Bern Convention by MEDASSET in 1984, and as a result, the Standing Committee issued Recommendation No.9 in 1987, to ensure the site’s protection.

Over thirty years later, sea turtles and their habitats in Laganas Bay are still under immense stress. Despite the site’s designation as a National Marine Park under a Presidential Decree in 1999, the Greek government has failed to provide adequate protection and the “case file” was re-opened in 2020 by the Standing Committee. In 2022, illegal activities continued, including human presence in restricted areas or at prohibited times, unregulated maritime activity and operation of illegal businesses affecting the nesting beaches. A key driver is the lack of enforcement by competent authorities and insufficient government funding for wardens. In addition, the restoration of the illegally constructed road between Daphne and Gerakas within the ZNMP and partially within the NATURA 2000 site has not been completed, while the fine of 200.000 euros issued in 2018 by the Regional Authority of Ionian Islands was reduced in May 2022 to 10.000 euros. In October 2022, MEDASSET and WWF Greece lodged a legal action in the Administrative Court against the decision amending the fine, requesting its annulment.  MEDASSET called upon the Greek government to urgently increase efforts for the adequate protection of Laganas Bay.

Decision:

“The Committee acknowledged the complainant’s concerns that Zakynthos National Marine Park Management needed secure funding to ensure its warden capacity. The Committee also took note that the complainant requested to mandate an on-the-spot appraisal. The Standing Committee noted the authorities’ efforts to intensify their enforcement as evoked at the September Bureau meeting, and welcomed the information that funding for the restoration of the illegal landfill site in the area of Skopos had been secured. However, the Committee expressed its concern at the information that illegal road constructions remained in place, despite the attempts of central government authorities to address the issue with their local counterparts, and that the fine for illegal activities had been reduced to €10,000.

Finally, the Standing Committee thanked both parties for their cooperation on the ongoing marine turtles’ conservation initiative.

The file remains open and both parties were invited to report to the Bureau in Autumn 2023.”

TURKEY

Fethiye & Patara (Caretta caretta) ^[1]

Find out more about these campaigns here or download our report .

MEDASSET has been conducting assessments and campaigning to improve the protection of loggerhead nesting beaches in Patara and Fethiye since 1988. Both sites are “Specially Protected Areas” (SPAs). We found that, disappointingly, the majority of the Recommendations adopted by the Bern Convention in 2015 (No. 182 for Patara and No. 183 for Fethiye) have not been implemented.

In Fethiye, the conservation status of the nesting beaches further deteriorated in 2022. In complete disregard of the Bern Convention’s Recommendation, the development of hotels, beach bars and other facilities has not stopped ruining the last remaining pristine areas of the SPA. The site seems to lack appropriate management plans, zoning and personnel. Lack of beach furniture management, insufficient number of information signs, limited and ineffective vehicle access control, light pollution and human presence at night, are among several unresolved conservation problems.  It is an undeniable fact that the coastal zone of Fethiye is not sufficiently “protected” and MEDASSET called for a major shift in policy for Fethiye by the Turkish authorities.

In Patara, there were no significant improvements and conservation problems remain: no local management staff on site and insufficient nest monitoring personnel, incorrect or no zoning and information signs, uncontrolled vehicle access, poor beach furniture management, etc. Inside Patara’s unique archaeological area, in proximity to the beach, construction of 312 holiday homes is almost completed. This is expected to increase the summer population by at least 120% and we are urging authorities to adequately protect the habitat from the associated threats. As Patara’s nesting beaches have been relatively safeguarded against development to date, the immediate implementation of the Recommendation No. 182 management and control measures will turn this unique natural and heritage site to a showcase example of protection.

Decision: “[…] The Committee welcomed the initiative launched by the Turkish authorities to promote marine turtles-friendly businesses and hoped that this approach would have a positive impact on the species’ protection.

The Committee acknowledged the complainant’s ongoing concerns on the construction of summer houses in Patara. Acknowledging the progresses achieved throughout the year on the development of a Management Plan for Fethiye, the Committee urged the Turkish authorities to step up their efforts to adopt Management Plans both for Fethiye and Patara as soon as possible.

Finally, the Standing Committee thanked both parties for their cooperation on the ongoing marine turtles’ conservation initiative. […] The file remains open.”

 [1] Sporadic green turtle (C.mydas) nesting has been recorded.

Anamur (Caretta caretta) 

Find out more in the NGO report .

Hosting over 1,000 Caretta caretta nests each breeding season, Anamur is the 2^nd most important Caretta caretta nesting site in Turkey and 4^th in the Mediterranean region. It is protected by national and international law and in 1998, the 18^th Standing Committee adopted Recommendation 66 stressing the need for Environmental Impact Assessments and inter-ministerial compliance, as well as urgent and stringent measures to enforce legislation against illegal sand extraction and coastal development. Now 24 years later, the 42^nd Standing Committee voted to open a new case file, greatly concerned of the large constructions and continued illegal activities occurring along the 12km nesting beach at Anamur.

The complaint was first reported by MERÇED and presented by MEDASSET in 2019, during which and all subsequent Standing Committee meetings, it was discussed as a possible case file. The detailed reports have consistently detailed the continued threats and disturbances of light pollution, sand extraction and non-compliance by the local businesses to national legislation. Of immediate concern is the on-going development of the Beach Arrangement Project, which began work in September 2021. Its first phase, now completed stretches 0.75km and the second phase, started September 2022 will be even bigger covering approximately 1.1km of the coastline. This complete alteration of the habitat includes, pergolas, walkways, bike paths, showers, WC, a café-bar, a patisserie, a tea garden and children’s play area, all illuminated at night by extensive street lighting.

Decision: The Committee took note that the complainant requested to open a file and mandate an on-the-spot appraisal.

As evoked at the September Bureau meeting, the Standing Committee noted with concern that construction permits had been issued for phase I of a coastal development and urged once more the Turkish authorities to halt phase II of the coastal development project.

Finally, the Standing Committee thanked both parties for their cooperation on the ongoing marine turtles’ conservation initiative. Following a discussion on the proposal of the complainant to open the file, the issue went to a vote. In accordance with the Rules of Procedure which require a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, the file is now open. Both parties were invited to report to the Bureau in Autumn 2023”

CYPRUS

Akamas peninsula (Caretta caretta & Chelonia mydas)

For more details see Terra Cypria’s 2022 report

Conservation problems at nesting sites in Akamas and Limni were brought to the attention of the Bern Convention in 1996 by MEDASSET on behalf of NGO Terra Cypria and a case file has remained open since 1997, making it one of the longest-standing cases of the Bern Convention.  Terra Cypria provided evidence that implementation of the Convention’s 2016 Recommendation is still outstanding, no legally binding management plans are yet in place and effective enforcement is needed.  MEDASSET supported Terra Cypria’s calls for urgent action by authorities to ensure enforcement of management measures on all nesting beaches.

Decision: […] “The Standing Committee also took note of the intervention of the European Commission which informed that the Commission had continued the dialogue with the Cypriot authorities in the framework of the infringement procedure for failing to comply with Articles 4.4 and 6 of the Habitat Directive, in particular for failing to designate sites of community importance and establish necessary conservation objectives for these sites.

The Standing Committee noted progress in certain areas, such as the patrol of the area by park rangers. Notwithstanding, the Committee remarked that minimal progress in the implementation of the majority of the thirteen points of Recommendation No. 191 (2016) had been achieved. In particular, the complainant renewed its appeal to designate the entire Akamas Peninsula as a protected area and reported concerns over the licensing for a development project to create two golf courses in the Polis-Gialia area.

Finally, the Standing Committee thanked both parties for their cooperation on the ongoing marine turtles’ conservation initiative. […] The file remains open.”