The waste in the waves
There is a large amount of waste in the sea which is a serious threat to marine animals.
Bottles, packaging and bags in water break into small fragments by the action of currents and heat.
52% of sea turtles accidentally ingest plastic, mistaking it for food, and in some cases, this causes their death. Abandoned fishing nets trap fish, birds, cetaceans and sea turtles.
The propellers
The impact with high-speed boats has dramatic consequences, causing serious injuries to the turtles. Even if the animal does not die on impact, and is rescued, propeller trauma is not easily treatable due to the long healing times in cold-blooded animals.
What can you do
• Limit the use of single-use plastic.
• Do not abandon the waste and if you can collect what you find
• Navigate at moderate speed to avoid accidental impacts and propeller trauma to marine life
• Check the ingredients of the sunscreens you use, buy only those that do not contain polluting chemicals
• Pay attention to animals in difficulty • Call 1530 and the emergency numbers: Harbour Master's Office 0564 933489 and Tartamare 338 4876614
Tartamare - What we do
Tartamare is the non-profit association in Tuscany, for the protection of the sea and the safeguarding of the species that inhabit it.
We take care of rehabilitating and treating sea turtles found in difficulty and of monitoring and protecting any nests on our coast.
We operate in agreement with the Municipality of Grosseto and we are included in the Network of the Tuscany Region.
It is not the strongest species to survive,
and not even the most intelligent; the species most predisposed to change survive. -Charles Darwin-
Sea turtles are very ancient, cold-blooded animals, belonging to the class of reptiles, which live in the seas all over the world.
They are migratory species that make long journeys especially to reproduce. Their winning weapon is the carapace, which has made it possible to survive for hundreds of millions of years. Lately, interaction with humans threatens their life.
The species of the Mediterranean
Common Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Length: over 100 cm Weight: up to 180 kg
Omnivorous diet: Molluscs, Crustaceans, Jellyfish, Echinoderms, Fish
Habitat: Cosmopolitan, present in the Mediterranean, more widespread in South Africa, Florida, Australia, Mozambique and Oman Reproduction: in summer ... it has recently nested in several beaches of the Tuscan coast.
Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
Length: over 200 cm
Weight: over 350kg (can reach 500kg)
Omnivorous diet: Jellyfish, gelatinous organisms Habitat: Pelagic, warm and temperate seas
Reproduction: in spring with 4-7 nests per season ... it has no bone carapace, but leather. it is the largest species of sea turtle.
Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Length: up to 150 cm Weight: up to 250 kg Herbivorous diet: Algae, Phanerogamous Plants (Posidonia) Habitat: Cosmopolitan, tropical and subtropical seas Reproduction: from July to March ... she is a great traveler and migrates up to 2000 km.
This panel was created thanks to the contribution of Tef: Tuscany Environment Foundation