The doctor and teacher at the Faculty of Science of Sfax, specialist in sea turtles, Imed Jribi, said on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in a statement to Tunisie Numérique, that sea turtles are long-lived migratory species. They move throughout their life cycle between nesting areas and feeding areas.
According to Imed Jribi, there are 7 species of sea turtles worldwide, 3 of which are present in the Mediterranean. These are the lute turtle, considered the largest species, the green turtle and the caouanne turtle, also called big-headed turtle, which is the most widespread.
The specialist said that green and caouanne turtles nest in the Mediterranean. In Tunisia, the caouanne turtle is the species that regularly lays on certain beaches, especially in the Kuriat Islands and in the Chebba region. Cases of nesting have also been observed in recent years in other coastal areas extending from Algerian borders to Libyan borders, but irregularly.
A threatened species despite protection efforts
Imed Jribi explained that the green turtle nests mainly in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially in Cyprus, Turkey, Palestine and Syria. However, he recalled that only one case of nesting of this species was recorded in Tunisia, in the Rejiche region, near the governorate of Mahdia.
The specialist stressed that all species of sea turtles are threatened with extinction, to varying degrees. However, he felt that the situation has improved over several years thanks to scientific studies and protection operations, insisting on the need to continue these efforts.
A sensitive period that coincides with summer
According to Imed Jribi, sea turtles are now present in almost all Tunisian coastal areas, with varying levels of presence. They generally choose sandy beaches to lay their eggs, most often at night, in quiet areas, away from human activity and lighting.
However, the specialist noted that turtles are now observed in areas that do not always meet these conditions, due to the high attendance of almost all Tunisian beaches.
He recalled that the current period corresponds to the nesting season, which begins at the end of May and continues until October. This period includes laying, egg hatching and the return of young turtles to the sea. It coincides with the summer season, which increases the risk of disturbance.
The right gestures to adopt on the beaches
The specialist called on summer visitors to avoid, as much as possible, staying late at night on sandy beaches, to limit intense activities on these spaces and to reduce the excessive use of light.
In case of discovery of a sea turtle nesting, Imed Jribi recommends informing the competent authorities or environmental associations, without intervening directly. He insisted on the need not to touch the animal, not to move it and not to try to put it back in the water, recalling that these gestures, when not scientifically supervised, can disrupt the nesting process.
He also specified that environmental protection associations are present in most Tunisian regions and can serve as intermediaries to alert specialized services. According to him, this approach is one of the most effective ways to protect sea turtles.
The Gulf of Gabès, main mortality area
Regarding the cases of turtles found dead on Tunisian beaches, Imed Jribi felt that this situation may sometimes be a natural phenomenon, rather than an exceptional alert.
He explained that the largest number of dead turtles is generally recorded in the Gulf of Gabes, mainly because this area constitutes an important feeding space for these species. Their presence is therefore higher than in other regions, which also explains a higher number of cases of mortality.
Fishing, pollution and plastic among the risks
The specialist added that the Gulf of Gabès is also the first sea fishing area in Tunisia, with a very large number of boats. Sea turtles can thus end up accidentally caught in nets or fishing gear, even if they are not targeted by fishermen.
He said that sailors often put turtles back in the water when they are still alive, but some are sometimes found dead. As such, he launched an appeal to fishermen to check whether a turtle is really dead or simply unconscious before throwing it into the sea.
According to him, when a turtle is still alive, it should be avoided immediately putting it back in the water, trying to facilitate the evacuation of water from its lungs, and then releasing it after a short time if its condition allows it.
Imed Jribi did not rule out the existence of other factors contributing to the mortality of sea turtles, including pollution, plastic waste and other forms of contamination, which increase the threats to these protected species.
source : Tunisie numérique
