Nesting numbers fell this summer throughout Greece.

Many factors, such as food supply, can affect nesting, but it was felt that the weather was to blame. In Zakynthos the sea temperature was cooler than normal at the start of the season, which meant turtles were slow to start breeding and laying eggs.  Then in mid June the weather became very hot, which in turn put them off, and we had approximately a 10 day period with little nesting activity.   

The first nest was not recorded at Gerakas until the 2nd June, though nesting at Sekania beach had started the week before.  In all 61 nests were recorded at Gerakas and approximately 54 hatched successfully, though we had some severe rain storms in September/October which probably did cause some losses.   Clay flowed down off the cliffs and the back of the beach, onto the sand dunes covering the nests in a layer of wet clay which then dried and had to be scraped off.  Cascades of water flooded down the track to the beach, and off the hills behind, washing away sand and causing deep 'river beds' in the sand.  Some nests were feared drowned, but some hatchlings did manage to dig their way out.  

Again there was illegal furniture blocking access to the back of the beach, and more tourists than normal visited Gerakas.  NMPZ wardens were not on duty until the third week of August, and then in reduced numbers, by which time the pressure of peak season had passed.  

However, Archelon did mange to rope of most of the beach on the left side to prevent damage to nests, and this was extremely effective, as well as making their beach patrols much easier.  The plan is to repeat this from May 2006 to avoid damage from the very start of the season.