Action Plan for the conservation of marine turtles in the Mediterranean

Overview

Within the framework of the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity (SPA/BD Protocol), the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention adopted a regional Action Plan for the conservation of marine turtles in the Mediterranean.

Although they are not legally binding instruments, Regional Action Plans are adopted by the Contracting Parties as strategic frameworks defining common priorities and actions to be implemented.

They promote the regional cooperation and coordination necessary for the conservation and sustainable management of the species and habitats concerned. This approach has proven essential to ensure their coherent protection across the Mediterranean.

Species concerned

The Action Plan covers the marine turtle species occurring in the Mediterranean Sea and listed in the annexes of the SPA/BD Protocol, in particular:
• The loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta);
• The green turtle (Chelonia mydas);
• The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).

These species use Mediterranean marine and coastal areas for feeding, reproduction and migration.

Strategic orientation

The objective of this Action Plan is to maintain the Good Environmental Status and to further recovery of the populations of Loggerhead turtles and Green turtles in the Mediterranean (with priority accorded to Green turtles, wherever appropriate, due to their more spatially and numerically smaller populations) through:

Appropriate protection, conservation and management of marine turtles and their habitats, including nesting, feeding and wintering areas and key migration passages.
Improved biological understanding of the status of marine turtle populations through scientific research and monitoring

These objectives are supported by priority actions at national and regional levels.

Implementation

Implementation of the Action Plan is the responsibility of the national authorities of the Contracting Parties.

SPA/RAC ensures regional coordination, facilitates cooperation among countries and supports the development of technical guidance and capacity-building.

International organisations, NGOs, scientific institutions and laboratories may contribute to its implementation and, where appropriate, obtain the status of Action Plan Partner in accordance with the procedures adopted by the Contracting Parties.

List of the Regional Action Plan’ Partners

The list below has been approved by the Seventeenth Meeting of SPA/BD Focal Points, held in Istanbul from 20 to 22 May 2025.

NGB: Association Notre Grand Bleu (Tunisia)
ERA : Environment & Resources Authority (Malta)
OCEANA: Fundación Oceana – Oceana in Europe (Spain)
ISPRA: Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Italy)
MedPAN: The Mediterranean network of Marine Protected Areas Managers (France)
WWF Mediterranean: World Wide Fund for Nature – Mediterranean (Italy)
WWF NA: World Wide Fund for Nature – North Africa (Tunisia)