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The Bay of Laganas is the site of the first National Marine Park and the prime nesting area for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean.
Zakynthos is the most important nesting ground for Caretta caretta turtles in all of Europe. 80% of the Mediterranean population return each summer to lay their eggs on the beaches in the south of the island. Loggerhead females lay their eggs on the same beach where they hatched, up to thirty years previously. Because of this habit of returning to the beach where they were born, if the species dies out the island, it will not be repopulated by turtles from other areas in the Mediterranean.
Due to the importance of Zakynthos as a reproduction area for the Loggerhead sea turtle, protective measures have been introduced since 1984. The purpose of the legislation is to control and regulate development as well as maintaining the quality of the nesting beaches. Tourism development is not prohibited behind nesting beaches, artificial light is prohibited on nesting beaches, vehicle use is not allowed on the beaches and the number of visitors and sunbeds is to be limited in nesting season with strict curfews in place between 7pm-7am (19.00-7.00) to allow the sea turtles to nest.
Sea turtle spotting boats are popular on the island and are required to remain 15 meters away from the animal, are only allowed to stay for 15 minutes, over crowding the animal is to be avoided, speed limit of 2 knots is enforced and no physical contact with the animal is allowed.Unfortunately, all this legislation is poorly enforced. Illegal umbrellas, sunbeds and buildings continue to occupy nesting beaches. Sea turtle spotting boats don’t always follow the rules leaving sea turtles stressed, exhausted and often causing serious injuries that can be fatal.
