Green turtle footprints on Akyatan Beach
Within the scope of the project "Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Mediterranean Region" supported by the MAVA Foundation, satellite transmitters were attached to 18 adult female green sea turtles on Adana Akyatan Beach between 2018 and 2022 by WWF-Turkey.
At the end of the summer, the tracked turtles reached the North African coasts to spend the winter.
- What is satellite monitoring?
It is very difficult to monitor the creatures living in the marine environment, especially those that make long-term and long-distance migrations. For this reason, systems have been developed that allow indirect monitoring of the activities of sea creatures in the marine environment, their migration routes, parameters such as speed, depth, and properties of sea water during migration. Monitoring sea turtles in the marine environment allows for more effective conservation measures. Satellite transmitters are special GPS (Positioning system) that are used to follow the behavior, movements, migration routes, and time-based positions of migrating species.
- How does this contribute to conservation?
With the data obtained from satellite monitoring, we can identify the most frequently used marine areas and regulate fishing activities, maritime traffic and prepare of holistic conservation plans.
