Dénia beach records the first turtle nest of the season with 116 eggs

The first nest of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) was discovered on Marineta Casiana beach in Dénia last night, June 14th, kicking off the breeding season in the Valencian Community.

A total of 116 eggs were counted, with 104 moved to a sheltered beach and 12 transported to the Oceanogràfic de València, where they would be fostered under regulated conditions.

Around 11:50 p.m. on Saturday, a couple walking along the beach reported seeing a sea turtle on the sand. In fact, the person who notified the authorities was the same person who discovered the turtle two years ago, in 2023, during one of the nesting episodes in Dénia.

Diana is one of three female turtles that lay their eggs on Marineta Casiana beach in 2023. She was correctly identified because of the microchip she was implanted with, which allows conservation workers to personally monitor the people who come to our coasts to nest.

Following the alert, the Valencian Community Stranding Network triggered its action protocol. The Oceanogràfic Foundation rescue team, along with research workers from the University of Valencia and the Polytechnic University of Valencia, arrived at the scene, where they were joined by representatives of the Dénia Environmental Protection Service and the Local Police.

Diana has also been outfitted with a satellite transmitter, which will enable comprehensive tracking of her activities in the following weeks, with the goal of determining whether she returns to land to lay additional eggs.

According to the Oceanogràfic Foundation, this first nest of the season confirms the consolidation of Valencian beaches as emerging nesting areas for this species, a growing phenomenon caused by factors such as climate change, rising sea temperatures, and turtle adaptation to new environmental conditions.

The Foundation emphasises the necessity of not interfering with the nesting process and phoning 112 if you see any sightings to activate the protection routine and ensure the survival of the eggs as well as the animal’s health.