Evidencing the northward extension of loggerhead sea turtle nesting activity in the Aegean Sea, Greece: new records of sporadic nesting on Lesvos and Chios islands

The Mediterranean Sea hosts a diverse array of marine species, including the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), a keystone species for conservation efforts. However, knowledge of its nesting localities within the Aegean Sea, particularly in the northern regions, remains limited. Here, we report the first documented instances of successful loggerhead turtle nesting and hatchling emergence on the northeastern Aegean Sea, on the Greek islands of Chios and Lesvos. Opportunistic observations conducted from 2016 to 2023 revealed four discrete nesting events with confirmed hatchling emergence across two beaches on each island. Our findings indicate a possible northward range expansion of the species in the Aegean Sea, which may be driven by the increasing sea surface temperatures. This underscores the ecological significance of these newly identified nesting grounds and emphasizes the urgent need for implementing robust conservation strategies to safeguard the long-term survival of loggerhead turtle populations in this region.