First Turtle Nest of the Season in Dénia with 116 Eggs

Dénia received a very special visitor last night. The sands of the capital of Marina Alta were the scene of the start of the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting season throughout the region.

The nest was specifically located on Maríneta Casiana beach, where 116 eggs were counted, of which 104 were moved to a protected beach and 12 were transferred to the Oceanogràfic in Valencia for controlled incubation.

The discovery occurred around 11:50 PM on Saturday when a couple walking along the beach raised the alarm after spotting a sea turtle on the sand. In fact, the person who contacted the authorities was the same one who located this same turtle two years ago, in 2023, during one of the nesting events in Dénia.

The turtle, known as Diana, is one of the females that laid three nests on Marineta Casiana beach in 2023. She has been accurately identified thanks to the microchip implanted in her, a system that allows conservation teams to individually track the specimens that come to our shores to nest.

After the alert, the action protocol of the Valencian Community Stranding Network was activated. The rescue team from the Oceanogràfic Foundation, along with researchers from the University of Valencia and the Polytechnic University of Valencia, moved to the area, where they were joined by the Environmental Protection Service of Dénia and the Local Police.

Diana has also been equipped with a satellite transmitter, which will allow detailed tracking of her movements over the coming weeks, with the aim of detecting if she returns to land to lay more eggs.

This first nest of the season confirms the consolidation of Valencian beaches as emerging nesting areas for this species. A growing phenomenon linked to factors such as climate change, rising sea temperatures, and the adaptation of turtles to new environmental conditions.

The Oceanogràfic Foundation reminds us of the importance of not interfering with nesting processes and to call 112 upon any sighting, in order to activate the protection protocol and ensure both the viability of the eggs and the well-being of the animal.