The marine fauna conservation department of COFIB was established in 2019 in response to the nesting of turtles that began in that year in the Balearic Islands.
It develops and coordinates the ‘Head Starting’ programme for sea turtles (Caretta caretta) that are born on the Balearic Islands. The main objective of the project is the controlled rearing of hatchlings over 12 months before reintroducing them to the marine environment. By increasing their size and weight considerably, the individuals that are reintroduced to the wild are better prepared for survival, facilitating their development to adulthood and reproduction in their natural environment.
In addition to the development and coordination of this programme in the Balearics, the department is responsible for the coordination and management of all sea turtle nesting events that take place in our islands.
To date, the following nesting events have taken place in the Balearic Islands:
2015
| DATE | ISLAND | LOCATION | EVENT |
| 03/06/2015 | Ibiza | Port de Ses Caletes | Female attempting to nest |
| 04/06/2015 | Ibiza | Santa Eulàlia | Female attempting to nest |
| 05/06/2015
|
Ibiza | Santa Eulàlia | Female attempting to nest but doesn’t lay eggs |
2017
| DATE | ISLAND | LOCATION | EVENT |
| June 2017 | Ibiza | Figueretas | Female returns to see, without laying eggs |
2019
| DATE | ISLAND | LOCATION | EVENT |
| 25/07/2019 | Ibiza | Platja d’en Bossa | Nest with 58 eggs relocated to Es Cavallet |
| 29/07/2019 | Ibiza | Playa Es Cavallet | Nest with 102 eggs |
2020
| DATE | ISLAND | LOCATION | EVENT |
| 19/06/20 | Menorca | Punta Prima | Nest with 130 eggs relocated to Sa Mesquida |
| 04/07/2020 | Ibiza | Playa Cala Nova | Nest with 100 eggs relocated to Es Cavallet |
| 05/09/2020
|
Menorca | Cala Pilar | Hatchlings heading to sea |
2021
| DATE | ISLAND | LOCATION | EVENT |
| 10/07/21 | Formentera | Platja de Migjorn | Female attempting to nest, doesn’t lay eggs |
In addition, the COFIB’s Marine Wildlife Department collaborates closely with other Head Starting centres on the Spanish mainland for the transfer and breeding of specimens born in other autonomous communities. This collaboration enhances the chance of success for all the participating centres.
COFIB’s Marine Wildlife Department develops a range of conservation and research projects for endangered marine fauna. In 2021, a project to monitor elasmobranch populations in the Balearic Islands began. Specific species of endangered sharks and rays present in our waters, and about which we have little information, are being studied in order to define their areas of distribution, the status of their populations, reproduction areas, migrations… etc.
The Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge MITECO is responsible for the recovery and management of marine wildlife,
The actions are coordinated with the Balearic Government and COFIB.
Contact
our wildlife recovery centres on each island.
