Preliminary report on the status of marine turtle nesting populations on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt

The Mediterranean coast of Egypt was surveyed to determine the location of marine turtle nesting rookeries; the presence of turtle emergence tracks, nests and eggs were recorded. Conclusive evidence was found that both Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas nest on the Mediterranean coast of the Sinai peninsula, primarily to the east, in the region surrounding the resort town of El Arish. This population is small and under intense pressure from human activities. Capture of adult turtles, human predation of eggs and rapid beach development threaten to eradicate this population in the near future. As the status of nesting populations in the area is fragile the immediate implementation of basic conservation measures such as public education programs, protection of nests from predators and transplantation of vulnerable eggs, is deemed essential. No evidence of nesting was found in the Nile Delta region; however, large numbers of dead turtles were found washed ashore suggesting that marine turtles congregate in the near shore waters to feed on continental shelf sea grass beds. Limited circumstantial evidence of nesting was found in the eastern region between Alexandria and the Libyan border, nesting activity in this area was negligible.