Benghazi – The Marine Biology Society of Libya’s Sea Turtle Project Team, in cooperation with the Community Development Department of al-Jabal al-Akhdar Coast Municipality, is monitoring and protecting sea turtle nesting sites along the beaches of Al-Hammamah, Al-Haniyah, Jirjāramah, and Al-Uqlah. These efforts are part of a regular field visit program.
According to the team, their recent patrols have documented, registered, and protected several sea turtle nests. The project aims to safeguard this threatened marine species and support environmental protection programs in coastal areas.
Sea turtles face several dangers during nesting season. Four-wheel-drive vehicles driving on beaches can erase turtle tracks and nesting sites, making monitoring difficult and hindering turtles as they come ashore to lay eggs. Other threats include unregulated fishing and marine pollution from waste reaching the coasts, which harms the turtles’ natural habitat and increases the challenges of conservation.
The project team urged four-wheel-drive vehicle owners and beachgoers not to drive on sandy areas, in order to protect the turtles and their habitats. They stressed the importance of community cooperation to support monitoring and protection efforts.
The team emphasized that protecting sea turtles is a shared responsibility. They called on relevant authorities and the local community to work together to preserve biodiversity and safeguard marine life for future generations.