Sea turtles are fascinating, ancient creatures—and unfortunately, they are now critically endangered. To make a small but effective contribution to the conservation of these unique animals, Biowaves is now supporting the organization SPOT (Society for the Protection of Turtles) with a turtle adoption.

Our sponsored turtle is named Marina Dwyn – and symbolizes all those animals that live and strive to survive in the waters around Cyprus. We don't currently have any photos of Marina Dwyn, but we will share them with you as soon as possible.

Who is SPOT?

SPOT is a non-profit organization that has been working to protect sea turtles in and around Cyprus since 1985. Its focus is primarily on two endangered species:

• the loggerhead turtle ( Caretta caretta )
• and the green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas ).

What SPOT actually does:

• Protection and monitoring of nesting beaches, especially in northern Cyprus (e.g. Alagadi Beach)
• Marking and securing nests so that they are not destroyed or disturbed
• Monitoring of hatched young
• Raising awareness about the dangers of tourism, light pollution and marine litter
• Collaboration with volunteers, researchers and local authorities

Why do green sea turtles need help?

According to the IUCN, the green sea turtle is a critically endangered species . Only a few thousand females return to Mediterranean beaches each year to lay their eggs.

Cyprus is a particularly important nesting site – among a few others in the eastern Mediterranean. Between May and August, the females dig their nests in the warm sand. About two months later, the young hatch – if they survive.

The threats are manifold:

• Plastic waste that is often mistaken for food
• Light pollution that prevents newly hatched turtles from entering the sea
• Loss of habitat due to development and mass tourism
• Bycatch in fishing

Who is Marina Dwyn?

Our adopted turtle, Marina Dwyn , is a green sea turtle, symbolizing the endangered population in Cyprus. Her name translates roughly as "sea creature that brings life."

By adopting her, we're helping SPOT protect nests, accompany young turtles on their journey to the ocean, and create better long-term conditions for these impressive animals. Photos and updates on Marina Dwyn will follow as soon as they're available.

What we can learn from this

Protecting the oceans starts with all of us: less plastic, conscious consumption, supporting organizations like SPOT – all of this makes a difference.

We look forward to sharing more with you from Marina Dwyn soon. Until then, we hope her story inspires you to rethink your own consumption habits and join forces to protect the oceans.