The Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Project held its final event of the season at the Güzelyalı beach in Karşıyaka on Sunday.

An adult turtle which had completed is recovery from injuries was released back into the sea.

The project is being carried out by the Cyprus MarineLife Centre working under Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute in collaboration with TELSİM and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA)

Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator-Prof Dr. Oğuz Türkozan from the Aydın Adnan Menderes University explained that work had been carried out on 15 beaches with over 100 volunteers from different countries.

Türkozan said that they had accessed 1700 nests this season which he described to be very productive.

He explained that 3D maps of beaches in the Karpaz Peninsula had been created using drones to detect the impact of climate change.

The representative of Karşıyaka Turtle Watch Jenny Tylerde, said that a total of 38 volunteers had taken part in the project this summer, releasing a total of 1600 hatchlings from 44 nests, two belonging to Green Turtles and 42 to Caretta Carettas.

The Mayor of Lapta Mustafa Aktuğ who also spoke at the event, said that the beach had been opened four years ago under the administration of the municipality.

He said their aim was to set up a rehabilitation centre at the beach in collaboration with the Taşkent Nature Park.

Democrat Party MP Serhat Akpınar drew attention to the pollution in the seas around the island, underlining the need for municipalities and local administrations to take measures to prevent this from happening.

He also said that they will be working hard to accept the Paris Climate Agreement and to pass the UN Climate Change Convention in the TRNC parliament.

The Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Ali Murat Başçeri for his part said that the Turkish government and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) were happy to be part of such a project.

He said that the work being carried out in North Cyprus had drawn the attention of academics across the world and that the findings of the research would be presented at a conference held abroad.

Başçeri added that the work carried out showed what could be accomplished in the TRNC despite the embargoes imposed on the country.

Following the speeches, certificates and plaques were handed to the volunteers and contributors.

An adult turtle that completed a 2.5 month recovery period was also released back to the sea.