On status and conservation of marine turtles along the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea coast: results of the Darwin Initiative Sea Turtle Conservation Project 1998–2000

Surveys showed that a small population (max. 37 nests per year) of Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta), and the occasional Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), nest along this coastline. Prime nesting areas are concentrated in the eastern region of the Northern Sinai coast close to the border with the Gaza Strip. Turtle nesting activity in the western region from Alexandria to the border with Libya is negligible, and no evidence of nesting was found in the Nile Delta region. The small population of nesting turtles that does exist in the eastern Sinai region is under severe pressure from human activity. Throughout the three year study evidence was found of capture and slaughter of adult turtles at sea; disturbance of nests and eggs on the beaches; reduction in hatchling survival due to heavily polluted nesting beaches; and the loss of nesting sites due to widespread coastal development for tourism. Many hundreds of kilometres of seemingly suitable nesting beaches exist along the Mediterranean coast of ...