Dear friends and colleagues,

I know we are well into our nesting season and many of us are out in the field these days. But my colleagues and I are keeping ourselves busy making preparations for the 8^th Mediterranean Conference, putting together what we hope to be a memorable event.

Quick update: we have passed a first important milestone – the Early Bird registration, Abstract Submission and Travel grant applications deadline (July 7) is now behind us. I am happy to report that more than 200 people have registered and paid and the Program Committee have started the review process for the 200+ abstracts submitted. For those who have not It is never too late to register, though, despite the higher registration fee rates!

With the Conference dates fast approaching, we know that you will taking the next step and start making travel plans to come and join us. So please note:

It has come to our attention that the Authentic Marathon Race, that follows the classic route and starts from Marathon (very close to the venue) will be held on 8 November, date when a lot of the conference delegates will be arriving. During that day, accessibility to the venue will be extremely limited between 6am and 6pm. Therefore, we strongly advise those wishing to arrive on November 8 to book flights arriving either the day before or landing after 6pm that day. If you arrive the day before, you will have the opportunity to be there and watch the race start of this unique annual event!

In any case, we will soon be announcing a contingency plan for anyone arriving during the time the hotel is going to be inaccessible.

In other news:

• If you have not done so already, please take the time to reserve your room at the conference venue. Take advantage of the special rates set just for out group. You can learn more and make your reservation here.
• If you require a visa to enter Greece, please contact the Greek embassies and/or consulates in your country and start your application process early to make sure you are ready to travel in time. We will be happy to provide help and support as needed.

As always, getting very excited to see you all,

Take care,
Aliki Panagopoulou
President of the 8th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles

Dear friends and colleagues,

Due to the higher than expected volume of registration and abstract submissions, and in order to resolve a few bank related issues that have arised, my colleagues and I have decided to extend the deadline for early bird application until Tuesday, 7 July 2026.

Please note that:

• This is really the last chance to register at the early bird rate. I urge you to take advantage of the reduced fees for the conference. After July 7, if you have registered but not paid your fees, you will be charged the regular rate which is substantially higher. Please do not wait until the last day to complete your registration as we may not have time to react to any bank issues that may arise.
• July 7 is now also the last date you can submit abstracts for oral or poster presentations. Abstracts should be in English, single paragraph, up to 500 words, without references, tables or graphs. It is important to note that it is not possible to submit an abstract unless registration is paid up.
• July 7 is the last date to submit applications for a travel grant. Limited support is going to be given to students presenting, those demonstrating financial need, or come from under-represented countries in the Mediterranean region.

My colleagues and I are always here to help. If you encounter any issues during registration, payment or abstract submissions, please contact us at: 

• info@medturtleconf.gr(for general querries)
• registration@medturtleconf.gr(for issues related to registration, cancelations, refunds, etc)
• Program@medturtleconf.gr(for anything related to the program (abstracts, withdrawals, workshops, special events, etc)
• travel@medturtleconf.gr(for issues related to travel support).

Take care,

Take care,
Aliki Panagopoulou
President of the 8th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles

Dear friends and Colleagues,

Nesting season is in full swing in our region, and so are the preparations for the 8^th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles, that now seems to be just around the corner.

My colleagues and I are happy to report that we have a series of workshops lined up that you may find and sign up for here, two round table discussions on range expansion and tourism, while Drs Kartik Shanker and Joana Alfaro Shigueto will be delivering invited talks.

Meanwhile, 30 June is fast approaching. This is critical date for us all, because:

• It is the deadline for registration at the early bird rate. I urge you to take advantage of the reduced fees for the conference by registering on or before that date. Please note that after June 30, if you have registered but not paid your fees, you will be charged the regular rate which is substantially higher.
• It is also the last date you can submit abstracts for oral or poster presentations. Abstracts should be in English, single paragraph, up to 500 words, without references, tables or graphs. It is important to note that it is not possible to submit an abstract unless registration is paid up.
• It is the last date to submit applications for a travel grant. Limited support is going to be given to students presenting, those demonstrating financial need, or come from under-represented countries in the Mediterranean region.

Important note: Issuing visas to enter Greece may take longer than anticipated. If you require a visa to enter Greece and attend the meeting, we strongly recommend that you plan accordingly and apply well in advance. We urge you to contact the Greek embassies or consulates in your country about what is required for the visa application.

More information about the conference can be found here.

You can always contact us at:

○ info@medturtleconf.gr (for general querries)
○ registration@medturtleconf.gr (for issues related to registration, cancelations, refunds, etc)
○ program@medturtleconf.gr (for anything related to the program (abstracts, withdrawals, workshops, special events, etc)
○ travel@medturtleconf.gr (for issues related to travel support).

We cannot wait to see you all in November,

All the best,
Aliki Panagopoulou
President of the 8th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles

Dear friends and Colleagues,

Have you thought of what you would like to present at the 8^th Mediterranean Conference? Well, I am happy to let you know that the abstract manager is now open and you can now submit your abstract for an oral or poster presentation here.

But first, please keep in mind that:

• That you must have registered for the Conference and paid the registration fee. Otherwise it will not be possible to submit your abstract. You may do so here.
• You may submit up to three abstracts, only one of which may be an oral presentation.  The other two will be presented as posters.
• Your abstract is 500 words or less, excluding acknowledgements. Select the most appropriate session as described here. If in doubt, select the “Other” category and the Program Chairs will select the most appropriate session for you.
• You can submit abstracts until 23:59 EET on June 30, 2026.

On this note, I would like to also announce that limited travel support will be provided to a small number of delegates. Priority will be given to students presenting their research, as well as delegates from low and middle income countries (ref: World Bank). If you wish to apply for a travel grant, you may do so here. Applicants will be notified by August 15, 2006. Deadline to apply is 23:59 EET on June 30, 2026.

We are all so looking forward to see what is the latest on sea turtle research and conservation in our region,

All the best,
Aliki Panagopoulou
President of the 8th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles

Dear friends and colleagues,

Things regarding the organization of the Conference are moving along, and now we have hit a major milestone: Registration is now open! You can now visit www.medturtleconf.gr and register, taking advantage of the early bird rate. As a reminder, please see rates below:

Early Bird

Regular                                                                 €200.00

Student                                                                €130.00

Extras

One day participant                                           €90.00

Exhibitors / Vendors non profit                   €200.00

Exhibitors / Vendors profit                            €500.00

Field Trip (per person)                                      €50.00

Gala Dinner (per person)                                 €40.00

Remember that it will not be possible to submit abstracts or travel grant applications, until your registration is all paid up, and it is better to do so now rather than later. Payments can be made via credit card or bank transfer.

We are working hard on fixing some glitches on the Abstract Manager + Travel grant platforms, which will be also opening up for submissions as soon as possible. If you have questions, you can contact the organizers at registration@medturtleconf.gr .  

On a different note, thanks to everyone who submitted a proposal for a workshop, round table or other event at the 8^th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles. I am happy to report we have received 16 proposals, which will be reviewed by the the conference’s Program Coordinator, Dr. ALan F. Rees, along with the organizers. Final decisions will be made by 30 April, and you will be able to sign up to all exciting events we have in store for you!

Looking forward to seeing you in November,

Best regards,
Aliki Panagopoulou
President of the 8th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles

Dear friends and colleagues,

Time is moving very fast, and the 8^th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles is fast approaching. The Conference will take place in Marathon, Attica Greece between 9 and 13 November, is hosted by ARCHELON the Sea Turtle Protection Society and partnered by UNEP MAP-SPA/RAC and the Marine Turtle Specialist Group.

All organizers, including myself, have been working hard putting together what we hope to be a memorable event celebrating turtles as a flagship species for coastal and marine protection as well as friendships and partnerships forged over the last more than 20 years.

For now, I am happy to announce that the website of the conference has now gone live and includes all the information required to start planning your attendance. Please visit www.medturtleconf.gr to learn more about the event, the venue, the program, registration fees, etc. The website will be continuously updated as more information becomes available. You may also follow us on Facebook, where we will be posting news and updates. If you have visited either of the two and still have questions, you may reach out at:

For general inquiries: info@medturtleconf.gr

For matters related to the program: program@medturtleconf.gr

Please remember that now is the time to submit your proposals for workshops, round table discussions or other events. You can find more information and submit your ideas here. The deadline for workshop proposals is 31 March, 2026, but I will send more information on that on a separate mail.

I hope you are all getting as excited to come to the conference in November as my colleagues and I are to be your hosts – See you in Marathon!

Aliki Panagopoulou
President of the 8th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles

Dear friends and colleagues,

Time is moving very fast, and the 8^th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles is fast approaching. The Conference will take place in Marathon, Attica Greece between 9 and 13 November, is hosted by ARCHELON the Sea Turtle Protection Society and partnered by UNEP MAP-SPA/RAC and the Marine Turtle Specialist Group.

All organizers, including myself, have been working hard putting together what we hope to be a memorable event celebrating turtles as a flagship species for coastal and marine protection as well as friendships and partnerships forged over the last more than 20 years.

For now, I am happy to announce that the website of the conference has now gone live and includes all the information required to start planning your attendance. Please visit www.medturtleconf.gr to learn more about the event, the venue, the program, registration fees, etc. The website will be continuously updated as more information becomes available. You may also follow us on Facebook, where we will be posting news and updates. If you have visited either of the two and still have questions, you may reach out at:

For general inquiries: info@medturtleconf.gr

For matters related to the program: program@medturtleconf.gr

Please remember that now is the time to submit your proposals for workshops, round table discussions or other events. You can find more information and submit your ideas here. The deadline for workshop proposals is 31 March, 2026, but I will send more information on that on a separate mail.

I hope you are all getting as excited to come to the conference in November as my colleagues and I are to be your hosts – See you in Marathon!

Aliki Panagopoulou
President of the 8th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles

Dear friends and colleagues,

It has been a while, but I am very happy to announce that our next big gathering, the 8th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtle is scheduled to take place between 9 and 13 November, 2026.

Since their first launch in 2001, our Mediterranean gatherings have been supported by the UNEP MAP-RAC/SPA, Bern Convention, CMS and the IUCN/SSC Marine Turtles Specialist Group, and this tradition continues today. These past conferences have provided a platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas, but even more importantly, they enhanced networking and collaboration in the field of sea turtle research and conservation across the Mediterranean.

With the 8th Conference we intend to further build on this. The Mediterranean Sea, a cradle of civilizations and empires now faces challenges such the collapse of fish stocks due to overfishing, hypertourism, and climate change. Sea turtles have been swimming in the Mediterranean for tens of thousands of years, and despite the many pressures and threats their populations are recovering as the result of almost 50 years of efforts becoming a conservation success. Reflecting on their resilience and role in promoting healthy ecosystems, the theme of the 8th Mediterranean Conference is “Guardians of Our Ancient Sea”.

Organized by ARCHELON, the Conference will take place in Marathon, Attica, Greece overlooking the Aegean Sea but also a historic site, famous for the battle that was fought in 490 BC and current starting point of the classic Marathon race.

A little more information: the Conference venue is the 4-star Golden Coast Hotel & Bangalows, located right next to the beach of Marathon. The venue is easily accessible from the Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos), while Athens is less than one hour away. More information about the venue and daily rates will be made available very soon.

It is my great pleasure and honor to invite you to the 8th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles and look forward to welcoming you all in person in Marathon next year. So please save the dates, start thinking about your ideas for workshops, presentations and/or other events and stay tuned for more information that my colleagues and I will be posting as it becomes available.

See you soon in Marathon, Attica, Greece!

On behalf of the Conference Organizing and Program Committees,
Aliki Panagopoulou
President of the 8th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles

Would you like to run a workshop, round table discussion, or other event during the 8th Mediterranean Conference, held at the Golden Coast Hotel in Marathon, Attica, Greece from 9 to 13 November 2026?

Well, now is the time to submit your proposal!

The Conference organizers have set aside a three-hour slot in the daily schedule (14:30 – 17:30) dedicated to workshops, round table discussions, or other events consistent with the Conference theme, “Guardians of our Ancient Sea”.

The format and content of each workshop or event is determined by its organizers and may spread over more than one day if necessary. Due to budget and space restrictions, only a limited number of workshops, round table discussions or other side events will be accommodated. 

The number of workshops will be finalized based on the number of proposals submitted and total workshop duration requested in proposals received.

To be considered, all workshops, round tables and other events must be open to all Conference participants, i.e. they should not be restricted to attendants by invitation only.

To apply, please use this form

Deadline for proposals is 31 March, 2026.

Applicants will be notified by 30 April, 2026.