This scientific project aimed to study the effects of microplastics on sand temperature and the incubation of turtle eggs. An awareness-raising component was set up in northern Cyprus, with the installation of information panels on plastic pollution on several beaches.
Main results:
PhD student Ceren Barlas was supported in the collection of data and the writing of a study to assess the distribution of plastics on the beaches of Northern Cyprus, with fieldwork carried out between July and September 2021. The project identified a large amount of polypropylene mesh in the marine environment, the main cause of mortality in juvenile sea turtles.
An awareness-raising video was shared and a campaign was launched in partnership with the industry, with the slogan “Throw the bag in the trash to save a turtle” on the pet food bags of Mustafa Haci Ali Ltd. A second film was produced, including an interview with Dila Haci Ali, the company’s sustainability manager. A full-length film was released in January 2022 with the support of BeMed.
Updated on 03/04/2025
