About the Conference
- INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
Information About the Conference
Learn more about the history of the Mediterranean Conferences on Marine Turtles, the vision of the 8th Conference, and the wide range of participants it welcomes.
History of the Mediterranean Conferences on Marine Turtles
It has been 25 years since the 1st Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles was held in Rome in 2001. However, the origins of these gatherings date back nearly 30 years. The organizing of a dedicated Mediterranean conference was first proposed by the Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn Convention) at theRAC/SPA meeting in Arta, Greece, in October 1998.
The initiative was formally adopted in 1999 through the cooperationof the Barcelona Convention, the Bonn Convention, the Bern Convention and the IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG). This historic partnership led to the first conference, which brought together over 170 participants from 18 countries.
Central to this inaugural success were the contributions of Dimitris Margaritoulis and ARCHELON (The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece). Representing the IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group, Margaritoulis served as a key architect of the first conference, acting as the Coordinator of the Programme Committee and co-editor of the official proceedings. ARCHELON provided the scientific and organizational backbone for many of the initiatives presented, showcasing decades of Greek conservation expertise. Their leadership helped bridge the gap between international policy and on-the-ground research, establishing a collaborative model that has defined the Mediterranean Conferences for the past quarter-century.
The organization of a dedicated Mediterranean conference was first proposed by the Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn Convention) at the RAC/SPA meeting in Arta, Greece, in October 1998. The initiative was formally adopted in 1999 through the cooperation of the Barcelona Convention, the Bonn Convention and the Bern Convention. This historic partnership led to the first conference, which brought together over 170 participants from 18 countries.
Since then, the Mediterranean Conferences have been consistently supported by UNEP/MAP-SPA/RAC, the Bern Convention, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), and the IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group. This strong tradition of international cooperation continues today.
The 8th Conference – Guardians of Our Ancient Sea
The 8th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles remains true to its founding mission: to bring together those united by the shared goal of sea turtle conservation and to provide a platform for exchanging state-of-the-art knowledge while strengthening regional collaboration.
The Conference will be held in Marathon, Greece, in November 2026, highlighting Greece’s leading role in Mediterranean sea turtle conservation.
The country hosts some of the most important loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting areas in the Mediterranean, including Zakynthos and southern Kyparissia Bay, as well as key marine habitats for both loggerhead and green turtles (Chelonia mydas).
Organized conservation efforts in Greece began in the early 1980s and have since led to major milestones, including the establishment of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, the Kyparissia Bay Nature Protection Zone, and the inclusion of significant sea turtle habitats in the EU Natura 2000 Network.
These long-term efforts have contributed to the apparent recovery of sea turtle populations in the region.
As the Mediterranean “Ancient Sea” faces increasing pressures from overfishing, hypertourism, and climate change, the 8th Conference marks nearly 50 years of collective conservation action.
Under the theme “Guardians of Our Ancient Sea”, the Conference aims to connect past successes with innovative strategies for the future, promote sea turtles as flagship species for healthy marine ecosystems, and reinforce the strong networks that underpin conservation across the Mediterranean.
Who Should Attend?
We welcome a diverse range of participants dedicated to the Mediterranean marine environment:
- Sea turtle researchers and conservation professionals.
- Marine biologists and specialists in large marine vertebrates and biodiversity.
- Students pursuing research in marine sciences, conservation, and ecosystem management.
- Policy makers and representatives from local, regional, and national authorities.
- Stakeholders from the fisheries and tourism sectors interested in sustainable practices.
- Environmental organizations and NGOs active in marine protection.
- Conservation volunteers and non-professionals who contribute to field efforts.
- Anyone with a genuine interest in sea turtles and their conservation in the region.
2. REGISTRATION DEADLINES & FEES
Registration Information
Early Bird
1 April – 30 June
Late Registration
1 July – 12 November
Special Fees
Important Registration Information
- Early Bird, Regular, and Student registration fees include all conference materials, coffee breaks, attendance to plenary talks, all conference sessions, workshops, and welcome dinner.
- Accompanying person / One-day participant registration fee includes conference sessions and workshops. It applies for one single day during the conference. If intending to attend for more than one day, then full registration fees apply.
- Attendance to the Field Trip and Gala Dinner is optional. Additional information will be announced soon.
Important Dates
Notes
Please note, if your room reservation is not made and paid for by 10 October 2026, availability at the hotel venue cannot be guaranteed.
Submission of Abstracts and TGA is only possible after payment of the Conference Registration Fee.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Cancellation and Refund requests must be submitted via e-mail to registration@medturtleconf.gr.
A processing fee of 15% applies until 14 October 2026.
No refunds after 15 October 2026.
No refunds for no-shows. Processing may take up to 20 business days.
Press Pass
Editors, reporters and bloggers from verified media outlets receive free press badges.
Contact info@medturtleconf.gr.
Please contact us 3 days before the conference.
Conference Information
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3. ORGANIZERS & SUPPORTERS
Committees, Chairs and Key Organizers
President
Aliki Panagopoulou
Conference Coordinator
Panagiota Theodorou
Steering Committee
- Aliki Panagopoulou (President, ARCHELON)
- Lobna Ben Nakhla (SPA/RAC)
- Paolo Casale (IUCN/SSC/MTSG)
Host Organization
ARCHELON, The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece
ARCHELON is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and protection of sea turtles and their habitats in Greece.
Its activities combine scientific research with volunteer work and aim to activate society for a better and sustainable planet through education and information dissemination.
ARCHELON has been systematically recording the nesting activity of the loggerhead sea turtles and protecting their nests on the most important nesting beaches in Greece, every summer since 1983. As a result, ARCHELON's sea turtle monitoring and conservation projects in Zakynthos and Kyparissia Bay rank among the longest-running in the world.
The nationwide Sea Turtle Rescue Network was established by ARCHELON in 1991 and has been recording sea turtle strandings with the help of port authorities and citizens ever since.
Established in 1994, the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Glyfada receives and treats injured sea turtles and carries out educational activities for thousands of students and visitors every year, highlighting sea turtles as a symbol for the protection of marine biodiversity.
Supporting Organizations
4. CONFERENCE – GUIDELINES FOR PRESENTERS
Presentation Guidelines
Official Conference language is English. All oral presentations and posters must be prepared and presented in English.
Oral Presentations
Oral presentations will be limited to 12 minutes: 10 minutes for presentation and 2 minutes for questions. Presentations will be grouped by session as assigned by the Scientific Committee.
Some abstracts may be placed in the POSTER RESERVE category. These abstracts are accepted as posters. Please note that presenting authors must be prepared to deliver an oral presentation if a presentation slot becomes available.
The conference center at the Golden Coast Hotel is equipped with a computer and digital projector supporting both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios with high-resolution output.
Software & Technical Guidelines
- Supported Software: Microsoft PowerPoint. All presentations must be uploaded to the on-site computer. Streaming from USB or Cloud is not permitted.
- Apple Users: Keynote software is not supported. Presentations created on Mac must be converted to PowerPoint before the conference. Please contact the organizers for technical assistance.
- Multimedia: Use PowerPoint integration tools for videos and images. Keep all media files in the same folder as your presentation.
- Video Formats: Recommended formats include .MP4, .MOV, or .AVI with resolution of 720p or 1080p.
Poster Presentations
Poster presentations provide a visual and concise way to showcase research and projects while allowing direct interaction between presenters and attendees.
Posters should use large fonts and clear graphics. The poster should communicate the main results of the work primarily through figures, charts, and images.
Posters will be displayed on boards with maximum dimensions provided upon abstract acceptance (TBD – portrait orientation). Posters exceeding these dimensions may be folded or trimmed to fit the available space.
Poster sessions will not overlap with other Conference sessions and presenters are expected to be present at their posters during the entire session.
Recommendations for Poster Presenters
- Title: Should be readable from approximately 3 meters (10 feet). A font size of around 72 pt is recommended.
- Text Size: Main text should be readable from 1 meter. Recommended size: 18–24 pt. Secondary text should not be smaller than 14 pt.
- Figures: Use graphs and charts rather than tables when possible. Include scale bars and error bars where appropriate.
- Topic: Focus to one central idea or topic. Unrelated information may confuse the reader.
- Flow: Organize the poster into logical sections so readers can easily follow the presentation.
Conference Logo
If you would like to include the 8th Mediterranean Conference on Marine Turtles logo in your presentation or poster, you may download it from the official conference website.
Student Awards
The Steering Committee will evaluate all oral and poster presentations and will award prizes for the best presentations.
To be eligible for a student award, applicants must currently be a current student or have graduated within 12 months prior to the conference. Your presentation must be based on research conducted during your student period.
Winners will be announced during the Gala Dinner.