in-cyprus 13 October 2025
A total of 224 turtle nests were recorded on beaches within the Sovereign Base Areas this year to reinforce the success of long-term conservation efforts.
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 apply a minimum-intervention conservation protocol which focuses on preserving natural habitats, limiting human interference and enforcing protective legislation under the EU-aligned Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife Ordinance.
Offenders face fines of up to €17,000 and imprisonment of up to three years for disturbing nests or turtles.
Daily patrols, the use of aluminium nest cages to deter predators and strict regulations on beach activities form the backbone of the conservation programme and are largely credited for the increase in nests.
Senior Policy and Enforcement Officer at the SBAs Environment Department, Alexia Perdiou, said turtle conservation is a long-term effort. “It takes about 20 years before the effectiveness of protection measures can truly be assessed. This is the time it takes for hatchlings to reach adulthood and return to their natal beaches to nest,” she said.
“What we are seeing today is the result of consistent, science-based protection measures that began more than two decades ago.”
British and Cypriot volunteers living within the SBAs and Republic of Cyprus have been another factor in the success, alongside the close working relationship with Terra Cypria, an NGO that coordinates volunteer efforts along Lady’s Mile beach.
Perdiou added that the contribution of volunteers cannot be overstated. “No matter how much effort and resources we invest, conservation only works when local communities embrace and support it. Their dedication is both vital and inspiring,” she said.
As nesting season draws to a close, 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.
