How are sea turtle nesting beaches and migration routes discovered?
Discovering potential sea turtle nesting beaches has been a component of MEDASSET’s work in the Mediterranean for over 25 years now in countries such as Libya, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. Sea turtles select their specific nesting site through a complex procedure involving a multitude of factors, including many natural ones (e.g. geomorphology, beach inclination, moisture content, sea and sand temperature, sand compactness). The process of finding nesting beaches involves scientific assessments of beaches, investigating the many natural factors and assessing whether human impact could be a deterrent (presence of boats, lights, noise, pollution, development etc.). Speaking with the local community and fisherman can provide insight into whether nesting occurs now or whether it has in the past.
