Seven nests in Sardinia and nearly 600 along the Italian coast : this is the partial tally of Caretta caretta nesting in the summer of 2025, marking a new national record. Compared to the 454 nests in the same period in 2024, this represents a 30% increase. This is the highest figure ever documented, a sign of a steadily increasing trend.
Legambiente took the picture today – on the occasion of the Campania stage of Goletta Verde – and took stock with a special activity on the beaches of Baia Arena in Montecorice and Cava dei Rocchi in Santa Maria di Castellabate. Here, the Tarta Dogs, canine units trained to identify nests, went into action in an innovative operation at European level conducted as part of the Life Turtlenest project. The Southern regions confirm themselves as the beating heart of nesting: Sicily leads the way with over 200 nests, followed by Calabria (around 130), Campania (103) and Puglia (64). But the Centre-North also records unprecedented numbers: Tuscany, with 27 nests, exceeds all precedents, while Liguria surprises with 11 nests. Two nests are in Emilia-Romagna and Marche, 17 in Lazio.
Turtles are now nesting in previously unimaginable areas : 13 out of 15 Italian coastal regions have recorded at least one nesting event in 2025. This is an unprecedented figure. Only Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, where suspicious resurgences have been reported, remain unaccounted for. The phenomenon, researchers explain, is the result of two factors: on the one hand, climate change is pushing turtles toward the western Mediterranean, and on the other, increased monitoring efforts by volunteers, associations, agencies, and marine protected areas.
"The integration of Tarta Dogs into monitoring activities is a pioneering initiative," says Martina Palmisano, spokesperson for Goletta Verde, "and demonstrates how innovation can become a tool for protecting marine biodiversity." The Mediterranean, which is warming 20% faster than the global average , is altering the reproductive patterns of this species. Italian beaches are increasingly being chosen by nesting females, often in areas frequented by tourists.
To reduce the impact of human activities, Legambiente has launched the "Turtle Friends" protocols , involving 119 municipalities, 38 marine protected areas, and over 200 beach resorts. Guidelines have also been drawn up to reduce light pollution , a major cause of disorientation in baby turtles when they hatch .
(Unioneonline/vf)
