Area Marina Protetta

The Rescue Centre for marine turtles of the “Egadi Islands” MPA, managed in collaboration with the environmental associations WWF Italia and Legambiente onlus, has its headquarters in the semibasement plan of the impressive Palazzo Florio, a Liberty and neo-Gothic residence owned by the Municipality of Favignana and located in the heart of the city centre, near the harbor.

It was realized with the contribution of the Ministry for the Environment together with the Italian Fund for Biodiversity, promoted by Federparchi thanks to the sponsor Co.Ge.Di, and with the  contribution of Bolton Alimentari s.p.a. group.

The Centre is being strengthened to be transformed into a true Rescue Centre within the project LIFE+12 Tartalife, funded by the European Commission whose Egadi Islands MPA is partner.

The Centre, open all year round since September 2015, is operational for the hospitality and care of specimens of marine turtles in critical conditions. The specimens are those recovered in the maritime compartments of Trapani and Mazara del Vallo, then referred to the Centre for treatment.

Within the premises, besides an area entirely dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of marine turtles, the facility has also a small area dedicated to guided tours, in which the interested visitors are provided with basic notions on the biology and ecology of marine turtles as well as on the best practices to follow in case you sight and/or recover a specimen in need of saving. Through the funding of the Tartalife European project, the Centre will become a real Rescue Centre within 2018.

For advice, info or bookings of guided tours, please contact our 24-hour dedicated number “SOS Tarta” 328.3155313 or the AMP offices at 0923.921659, or write an e-mail to sostarta@ampisoleegadi.it and info@ampisoleegadi.it.

 

THE PROJECT

In 2011, the Marine Protected Area “Egadi Islands”, the Municipality of Favignana as Managing body, and the environmental associations WWF Italia onlus and Legambiente onlus signed an agreement by which they undertake to cooperate in carrying out activities aimed at the environmental protection, including the creation of a Rescue Centre for Marine Turtles in the island of Favignana, co-managed according to the expertise and experience in the sector of each, in order to overcome a shortage in the Province of Trapani and create a point of reference on the territory as far as it concerns the care and recovery of animals in need of saving.

The project aims to create a network of professionalism and to establish a reliable and standardized protocol, based on the information contained in the current regulations and in the guidelines drawn by ISPRA, that enable the care and rehabilitation of sea turtle specimens in need of saving and their subsequent reintegration into the sea.

The general objective is to contribute to the protection of sensitive species such as marine turtles, by intervening on specimens in critical conditions.

The project, realized on the island of Favignana, was born in order to overcome the lack of similar structures in the province of Trapani and thus guarantee timely intervention and rescue. Shortening distances and providing more immediate assistance results in a greater chance of success and consequently increases the survival rate of specimens.

 

STAFF

Donati Stefano, Director of the Marine Protected Area of the Egadi Islands, administrative manager and legal representative of the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre.  

Geologist and environmental adviser, since 2010 he is Director of the Marine Protected Area of the Egadi Islands, managed by the Municipality of Favignana on behalf of the Ministry for the Environment. From 1999 to 2012 he worked as an expert with the Ministry for the Environment, coordinating the inquiries for the establishment, updating, regulation and management of protected marine areas, and evaluating projects implemented at national and Community level. He is expert witness (CTP) in legal proceedings. He is an environmental consultant for public administrations, service companies and private companies for environmental and geological aspects, particularly in the marine field, in protected areas and in the field of pleasure craft. He also teaches these subjects in Masters, training courses and refresher courses for Universities, Public Administrations, Armed Forces, Professional Associations and Journalism Schools. He was senior researcher at the Ambiente Italia research institute, dealing with protected areas, environmental impact studies, coastal management, sustainable tourism, soil and subsoil. He was consultant of the Basilicata Region as regards Rete Natura 2000. He is PhD in geodynamics at the University of Roma Tre and the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, and he has dealt with geological risks and geology of urban areas. He is author of over 70 scientific publications and articles on environmental issues and geological matters.

 

Arena Paolo: Medical Director of the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre.

Veterinarian, qualified at the University of Perugia in 1999, he works in the Municipality of Palermo and its province as medical surgeon in various veterinary facilities and runs two outpatient clinics in Carini and Isola delle Femmine. From 2000 up to today, he has gained experience in the field of care of small animals and unconventional animals, through the collaboration with several veterinary facilities and the participation in projects within the Life program. In 2002 he participated in a Life project titled "Urgent Actions for Preservation of Caretta Caretta in the Pelagie Islands", as a veterinarian at the Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in Linosa, of which later he became Medical Director until 2006. Between 2006 and 2007 he has been the medical director of the Recovery Centre for Wildlife and Sea turtles of Cattolica Eraclea managed by CTS.

 

Comparetto Giorgia: Technical-Scientific Manager of the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre.

A qualified biologist, graduated in Biology with specialization in Marine Biology and Oceanography, over the years she has worked mainly on topics related to the monitoring of cetaceans and sea turtles. In fact, she has collaborated with various projects of the Life programme together with CTS between 2001 and 2006, where she was responsible for monitoring activities, and devoted herself to activities arising awareness on the subject of conservation of endangered species.  She also worked with the Necton cooperative company in Messina, engaging herself in activities aimed at the study and monitoring of cetaceans and sea turtles.  In recent years, she has also been teaching and conducting training courses dedicated to children on topics related to Marine Biology.

 

Rinaudo Ilaria, biologist, employee with AMP Egadi Islands: technical support.  

Graduated in Biological Sciences with biological-ecological specialization from University of Palermo in 2003. Since 2004, when she started to practice her profession, she participated in projects on the management and promotion of the coastline and fishery resources on behalf of, among others, AGCI AGRITAL and the Biotecno research cooperative. She has also taught in training courses for ichthyic sector’s operators and carried out meetings in primary school focused on marine biology and sustainability of fishing. She is a member of Bio & Tec soc. coop of Trapani, enrolled in the National Registry of Research, and she has participated, since 2007, in research and promotion programs in the field of marine biology, with particular focus on issues related to fishing and aquaculture management. Since 2012, she has been collaborating as a technical-scientific expert with the Marine Protected Area of ​​the Egadi Islands, where she provides support to the activities of the Body, dealing, inter alia, with issues related to professional fishing. She has also participated in the planning activities within ENPI and Life + programs, and she is a technical-scientific referee within Life + 12 Tartalife project, of which the Marine Protected Area is a partner.

 

Sammartano Daniela, naturalist and collaborator with AMP Egadi Islands: technical support.  

Graduated in Natural Sciences with specialization in Conservation of Nature and its Resources from the University of Pavia in 2008, she collaborated with a diving centre in Favignana from 2004 to 2011, offering support as a dive instructor and carrying out the "Discover Scuba Diver" program for neophytes, children or adults, with demonstration of the main exercises and accompanying during the first dive. From 2012 to 2013, on behalf of the Azzero Co₂ Association, she participated in the project Sun and Stars of the Egadi, carrying out front desk activities and giving support in organizing project events.  Since 2010, first as a volunteer and later as a collaborator employed with the Body, she has been providing technical and administrative support to the Marine Protected Area of the Egadi Islands in the ordinary activities of the Body and in the planning activities of such programs as ENPI and Life. She is a reference to communication and monitoring activities within the project Life + 12 Tartalife, of which MPA is a partner. She is also the contact person of MPA in several projects, including the "Geo-Calarossa" pilot project and the ENEA “Ecoinnovazione Sicilia“ project. She participated in the drafting of a technical-scientific report prepared for a new proposal to update the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area, and she provided support in the organization and conduct of a ship's passport course for 38 volunteers and collaborators of the MPA in collaboration with the Italian Naval League.

  

Sieli Giuseppe, biologist and collaborator with AMP Egadi Islands: technical support.  

Specialist Degree in Marine Biology at the University of Chioggia, from 2004 up today, he has gained working experience in the field of marine biology by taking part in research projects related to fishing management, in particular conducted with the IAMC-CNR of Mazara del Vallo, as part of MEDITS and GRUND campaigns, through participation in the activities performed at sea, sampling and laboratory analyses. Together with CNR, he has also contributed to the creation of several posters and scientific publications dealing with the management of fishery resources. He has also participated in the oceanographic campaign conducted by the CNR in Mazara del Vallo, within the project "Bansic 07".

Since 2010, he has been collaborating as a technical-scientific expert with the Marine Protected Area of the Egadi Islands, for which he also offered technical and scientific support in issues related to fishing as well as within, among others, the projects on the monitoring of the presence of the Monk seal (Monachus monachus) carried out together with ISPRA, and on the positioning of anti trawling bollards .

 

Martina Genovese: support for environmental education activities.

Specialized with Hons in Marine Ecology at the University of Palermo in 2015, she has carried out research in Italy and abroad at research institutes in the field of marine ecotoxicology, fisheries biology and aquaculture.

Since the time of her studies for the achievement of the first level Degree, she has always devoted herself to environmental education as a tool for disseminating scientific themes for the general public and the youngest. Continuously bringing herself up to date on environmental communication didactics, she carries out environmental education activities with primary and secondary school pupils and dissemination of environmental information with school teachers, with insights on the most important issues to be addressed at school. Concerned in environmental and conservation issues, during her years of her training, she carried out various volunteering activities with WWF (Lampedusa and Mazara del Vallo) for the sustainability and protection of marine biodiversity and the safeguarding of marine turtles. She is currently a collaborator of the Marine Protected Area of the Egadi Islands at the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre (TartaLife Project), providing support in the communication activities with tourists or locals as well as in the management of the Centre.

 

The Sea Turtle Rescue Centre also employs resources and volunteers recruited by the three Managing Bodies (MPA "Egadi Islands", Legambiente onlus and WWF Italy onlus), and suitably trained and authorized by the Medical Director of the Centre to provide support and assistance in the activities of the Centre and in matters such as teaching, training, promotion of the Centre, awareness-raising activities and environmental education activities.

 

What to do in case of sighting of sea turtles in critical conditions

Guidelines and Good Practice

In order to optimize the process of the specimens recovery and admission to the Centre, please note the following:

1. Anyone who sights or recovers specimens of marine turtles in need of care must contact the relevant Harbourmaster's Office or directly the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre of the Egadi Islands MPA, at the dedicated number“SOS Tarta” 328.3155313, operational 24 hours a day, or call the MPA offices at 0923/921659; any report must be made in writing to the addresses or you can write an e-mail to sostarta@ampisoleegadi.it e info@ampisoleegadi.it;
2. the temporary holding of marine turtles caught by fishers accidentally does not constitute an offence or an administrative abuse, whereas he who holds the animal reports the recovery readily to the competent Harbourmaster's Office or Sea Turtle Rescue Centre;
3. awaiting the intervention and/or the delivery of the specimen to the Harbourmaster's Office or directly to the Rescue Centre, turtles must be handled by firmly grasping the two sides of the carapace, without ever raising the animals by their fins;
4. during these operations it is necessary to maintain a safe distance from the animal's mouth, which can cause serious wounds and, in large animals, even from the front fins, as they can inflict painful blows to rescuers;
5. limit handling to a minimum, avoiding the hand transport;
6. the turtle must be placed in the prone position and kept moist, preferably in a container with rounded edges and adequate size, so that the animal is not subject to torsions to the joints;
7. until the delivery of the recovered animal, it is advisable to moisten the body with sea water or even soft water. Alternatively, especially in summer, you can cover the animal with a wet cloth, taking care not to obstruct the airways;
8. the material recovery of the specimens, at sea or on land, is always carried out by authorized personnel belonging to the MPA Rescue Centre: either MPA staff or volunteer expert staff appointed by WWF Italia and Legambiente.

 

Tartaday 16/06/2016 (information activity within the project Life + 12 Tartalife)

During the day, besides the public opening of the centre, a recreational-educational activity aimed at children was conducted at the Canossian oratory of Favignana. Children were shown an illustrative film on the Tartalife project, sea turtles, ecology and threats, and a brief lesson was presented.

Then the children were engaged in themed fun-activities, to put into practice the concepts outlined above, through quizzes and simulations.

 

23/07/2016

For the first year from the ribbon cutting, a day of total opening was organized, with educational activities for visitors. And there were also recreational and educational activities for children on the beaches, to raise awareness and educate to the protection of sea turtles.