What once stood out as a rare event is becoming more frequent. The warming of the Mediterranean waters is reshaping sea turtle habits, with a growing number of nests along the shores of Spain and Italy. In recent weeks, reports show at least fifteen nests on Spanish beaches and as many as a hundred nesting events in Italy, marking a record season on the western Mediterranean coast.
This shift has been verified by a consortium of universities from Vic, Barcelona, and Valencia Polytechnic, which leads the InGeNi-Caretta project in collaboration with the University of Valencia and the Doñana Biological Station. The initiative is funded by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, the Biodiversity Foundation, and the European Union. Its goal is to understand the drivers of this colonization, assess its implications, and inform decision makers about the changing dynamics linked to rising sea temperatures and altered beach sand conditions.
Biologists note that climate change is reshaping nesting sites for Caretta caretta, guiding it toward regions previously unused. This expansion creates new challenges for biodiversity management in those areas, particularly where human activity coexists with nesting beaches.
The last decade has seen a rise in sea turtle nests along the western Mediterranean coast, where the survival of hatchlings hinges on the viability of each nesting season.
Project biologists explain that this expanding colonization often lands in zones with significant human presence. Effective management is essential to support successful nesting while balancing coastal use, as seen on the Spanish coast.
“The recent emergence of this colonization process requires the development of new capabilities among researchers and public authorities alike,” say the project leaders.
Spawning reproduction in the Spanish Mediterranean
The first sea turtle nest detected on Spanish soil this season appeared on Can Pere Toni beach in Palma de Mallorca at the start of June. In the following weeks, additional nests were found on beaches across Catalonia, the Community of Valencia, Murcia, and Andalusia.
In Catalonia, the discovery of three nests in the Ebro Delta highlights the growing importance of this natural area as a new nesting site. A notable fact this year is that the nest found on the Sa Riera coast in Begur, Girona, represents the southernmost nesting date ever recorded on the Iberian Peninsula.
Experts from the InGeNi-Caretta project emphasize that monitoring networks face a meaningful challenge as nesting activity increases. Researchers from the University of Vic note that regional and local authorities have put in place protocols to conserve this species and collect essential scientific data, helping to guide conservation efforts across Spain and neighboring coastal communities.
This rise in nesting along the Spanish coast aligns with trends seen in other parts of the western Mediterranean. A striking example is Italy, where nearly 100 nests were detected in the early weeks of the season. Project members have reported a more than 50 percent increase in nesting compared with previous years in regions such as Campania.
Marine biologists involved in a detailed study of potential fitness indicate that the InGeNi-Caretta findings will support improvements in conservation measures for this sea turtle species, especially regarding nesting activity along the Spanish Mediterranean coast.
What should be done if a sea turtle is spotted on the beach? The priority is to stay calm and let the animal move and lay its eggs. If it is nighttime, avoid using flash photography or bright lights. In such cases, it is essential to contact local authorities promptly so specialists can manage the nest properly. Public communication about the event should be restrained to prevent disturbance while the nesting occurs. It remains a natural process that requires calm, observation, and respect for wildlife.
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