Sea Turtles Info Point opened at Aquarium of Cattolica - Le Navi

Friday 5th June, at the Aquarium 'Le Navi' of Cattolica the Info Point on the Adriatic sea turtles has been opened. The project coordinator of TartaLife, Alessandro Lucchetti, also attended the event.

The first Info Point on sea turtles in the Adriatic Sea was born thanks to the collaboration between the Aquarium of Cattolica with Fondazione Cetacea Onlus of Riccione. Fondazione Cetacea manages the largest rehabilitation center for sea turtles in the Adriatic and participates in the European project TARTALIFE.

A popular spot to get to know the characteristics of sea turtles, the difficulties they face off in the Mediterranean Sea and the role of the rescue center and hospitalization of 'Emilia Romagna - Marche.

Moreover, there will be the possibility to take information on how to support responsible fisheries and environment and how to choose fish that was catched in this way, in addition to viewing the various video of turtles releases in the sea.

Inside the Info Point...TartaLife project and TED

objective

reduction of sea turtle mortality in the professional fishing

project in brief

The conservation of Caretta caretta, a priority species included in App. II/IV of the Habitat Directive and protected in various international Conventions, has been representing a strategic issue for the whole Mediterranean basin, with professional fishing being the main threat for the survival of marine turtles: every year about 130000 turtles can be accidentally caught accidentally in the Mediterranean.

The project TartaLife, involving all 15 Italian regions overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, aims at reducing:
- bycatches caused by pelagic longline, bottom trawl and fixed nets by disseminating technical innovations of the fishing gears;
- post-capture mortality through trainings for fishermen and strengthening the marine turtles First Aid/Rescue Centres

TartaLife project

Life+ programme

The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental policy and legislation by co-financing pilot or demonstration projects with European added value.

LIFE began in 1992 and to date there have been four complete phases of the programme (LIFE I: 1992-1995, LIFE II: 1996-1999, LIFE III: 2000-2006 and LIFE+: 2007-2013). During this period, LIFE has co-financed some 3954 projects across the EU, contributing approximately €3.1 billion to the protection of the environment.

Life+ programme