Mediterranean Marine Life Center : A Sea Turtle Rescue and Education Center
Mediterranean Marine Life Center : A Sea Turtle Rescue and Education Center
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Yannis has directed his energy into bringing conservation and sustainable tourism together in his corner of Greece.
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost
Yannis became a full-time conservationist in 1991 and has been steadily working to protect the Caretta Turtles and marine life in and around the island of Zakynthos.
Yannis efforts are focused on the village region of Gerakas, where he grew up, in the southern tip of Zakynthos. Gerakas beach is at the heart of the Caretta nesting ground and Yannis is working to minimize damage from tourist development to ensure that people keep marine life in mind.
His goal is for people to be more informed where they travel to and to consider the communities and ecosystems that they are members of when they do travel.
In 1996, he built a small wooden information kiosk which has now grown into the Mediterranean Marine Life Center information center.
It is the only place on the island to educate visitors and encourage tourists to take a closer look at the rich heritage, natural beauty, wildlife, and culture of Zakynthos.
The goal of protecting the island for future generations, by helping tourists prevent themselves from becoming a threat to the sea turtles.
Earth Sea Sky Global, Gerakas Beach Copyright © 2015
Gerakas Beach 2024. Tourists are not observing guidelines for proximity to nesting sites, beach capacity, or umbrella usage.
Gerakas Beach is a turtle nesting beach protected by the National Marine Park of Zakynthos (NMPZ). Geraka beach is located right next to the turtle information center that Yannis built.
The beach is eroding due to tourism, not climate change. 70% of the sand on Gerakas Beach has been lost as a result of tourism! However, tourists are often not from the island and are not informed and to not use the strategies to minimize their impact when they use the beach.
Yannis believes turtles and tourists can coexist! Below are his guidelines for visitors.
Zakynthos Turtle Center Commandments for Visitors
Updated list of nesting beaches on Zakynthos.
ParadiseLost-Final.pdfParadise Lost- Written by Stephanie Mills & Yannis Vardakastanis
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