Mojácar Council Joins the “here We Save Turtles” Awareness-raising Campaign

Mojácar Council has joined the “Here we save turtles” awareness-raising campaign, an initiative aimed at educating the public on how to behave when encountering a marine turtle on our coastline.

This campaign, initiated in 2019 by the Oceanographic Foundation, has gained momentum with the Azul Marino Foundation and Palma Aquarium Foundation joining, and expanding to include the Balearic Islands and Murcia Region. It has also incorporated the Seville Aquarium, with participation from various Andalucia municipalities, totaling 80 municipalities involved.

Thanks to the collaboration of councils like Mojácar, this educational campaign to protect marine turtles has been supported through various actions. To maximize its reach, posters have been displayed on the municipality’s MUPIS (Urban Furniture Information Presentation). Additionally, the manual of good practices is being publicized on the Council’s social media and website. People with a connection to the beach are also being made aware of the importance of looking out for turtle tracks every morning. Bathers and travelers are informed about the presence of marine turtles on the Mediterranean coasts and are encouraged to call 112 in case of a sighting to activate the Strandings Network.

An environmental workshop on Lance Nuevo beach is scheduled for August 24th at 11 am, focusing on marine turtles, conservation, and good environmental practices. Experts from the Seville Aquarium will conduct this citizen awareness-raising action, covering topics such as the biology of turtles, what to do when encountering a turtle in danger, how to detect turtle tracks indicating egg-laying, and how small everyday changes can mitigate threats to turtles.

Notably, marine turtles have previously chosen the beaches of Mojácar for nesting. In June 2022, 20 small loggerhead turtles born in the municipality were returned to the sea. A resident who spotted turtle tracks on the sand alerted 112, triggering a protective and rescue effort. Before their release, these turtles spent their early days at the Algeciras marine environment recovery center, CEGMA, which belongs to the Junta de Andalucía.

The nesting season is currently underway, and while it’s uncertain if turtles will return to Mojácar’s beaches, it’s crucial to be prepared. If turtle tracks or a female turtle are observed on the beach, it’s important not to disturb them with photos or flashes and to immediately call 112.