According to the Association for the Protection of Mediterranean Sea Turtles – rising sea levels and the frequency of violent storms threaten turtle nesting sites on the island of Cyprus.

Scientists argue that the hatching sea turtles calves on the island are now facing an additional threat – climate change.

“This year is a little strange, because of climate change we see very strange weather,” – told the publication In Cyprus marine biologist Mirula Hadjihristophorou, she is responsible for the program to protect sea turtles in the Fisheries Department of Cyprus.

“We have seen very extreme climatic events, many strong winds, large waves and I think we have lost many nests”.

This year’s summer was also very hot. The increase in average temperature can also hinder turtle hatching.

“Out of every thousand babies that go out to sea, one or two can survive, so that adults will return to the beach where they were born and lay their eggs,” Hajihristophorou said.

Two species of turtles breed in Cyprus, both endangered – the green turtle and the tadpole turtle, also called the caretta.

In general, it can be argued that efforts to preserve turtles in Cyprus are successful because they have led to an increase in the number of nests up to 2000 this year, compared to 300 in the 80s.

Dying species of turtles face threats to their survival for decades, and this is facilitated by large-scale coastal development for tourists, and intensive shipping, and abandoned fishing gear and nets, which are most often the main causes of death of turtles.