Since the year 2016, Mediterranean Marine Group, commitment to the environment and its environment, is sticking to the project “Turtles on Board”, an initiative to encourage the recovery of specimens of turtles that are caught by accident during the daily work of fishermen.

“Turtles on Board”  creates an action protocol involving fishermen; when they climb the turtle aboard their boat, it is reported to the 112 of the situation. Already in port, fishermen leave the turtle in tanks installed for this purpose until technical staff arrive to transfer the animal to a recovery centre for treatment.

Adherence to such projects is vital for the balance of the marine ecosystem. Sea turtles are endangered animals and play an important ecological role in the seas. These animals help, For example, to maintain the good condition of the waters consuming sick or dead animals. Six of the seven species of sea turtles have been described on the Spanish coast: Caretta caretta or dumb (the most abundant), Lute, Green, Lora, carey and olive. Accidental capture is a problem for the balance of biodiversity.

The three ports of the Mediterranean Marine Group have the necessary facilities to receive rescued turtles.

The project is coordinated by the Doñana Biological Station of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (Csic) and has the co-financing of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the European Fisheries Fund, and with the collaboration of the Public Agency of Ports of Andalusia and the Andalusian Federation of Fishermen's Guilds.