The Honu Hui Campaign was created to protect and promote one of the oldest and most fascinating creatures of our seas: the Caretta caretta sea turtle. Although it is the most common species in the Mediterranean, it is sadly now classified as endangered.
In 2025, several turtles were found dead due to the presence of ghost nets along the coastline — a silent but devastating threat that endangers countless marine species.
It is estimated that there are around 8,000 nesting females in the Mediterranean. In Italy, around 300 nests were monitored in 2023, a number confirmed again in 2024. For 2025, an increase in nest sightings is expected, thanks in part to the tireless efforts of organizations like the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, which is active on multiple fronts in marine conservation.
The first nests of 2025 were found in the warmer regions of Sicily and Campania, with Puglia, Lazio, and Tuscany following the same trend, confirming the nationwide relevance of this mission.
A Difficult Journey
Italian beaches, unfortunately, are heavily populated with beach resorts, creating significant obstacles for sea turtles. During the critical nesting phase, females face artificial barriers such as sunbeds, walkways, and fences.
And when hatchlings emerge, their first challenge is orientation: city lights, nightclub music, and urban noise disorient them, often leading them away from the sea — a journey many do not survive.
Dawn Watchers
Every morning before sunrise, volunteers from the Captain Paul Watson Foundation patrol the beaches in search of tracks left by turtles during the night. It’s a race against time: these fragile traces can quickly be erased by beach-cleaning tractors preparing the sand for the day ahead.
When a track is found, volunteers locate the exact nesting site, record its GPS coordinates, secure the area, and promptly notify the relevant authorities, such as the Coast Guard and marine biology centers.
Guardians of the Nests
From that moment, the nest is monitored daily. Volunteers ensure it remains safe from disturbances, vandalism, and natural threats. When exceptional events like storms or heavy rains put the nest at risk, experts from institutions such as the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station and the LIFE TURTLE NEST project intervene with conservation measures, if necessary.
Trained Volunteers, Hands-On Experience
Since 2023, the Italian volunteers of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation have been active mainly in Campania, Sicily, and Puglia. These are trained, passionate individuals who gain practical field experience and regularly participate in training courses, ensuring that every action is effective, respectful, and aligned with the latest scientific standards.
Dawn as an Ally
Monitoring activities take place in the early morning, when the beach is still quiet and untouched. It is in that fleeting moment — between darkness and light, between silence and the awakening of life — that the opportunity arises to protect a new generation of sea turtles.