(ANSA) – RAVENNA, 09 AUG – A sea turtle nicknamed ‘Bobo’ was released today off the coast of Marina di Ravenna, near offshore structures, as part of a campaign to study and protect the marine ecosystem, taking advantage of the trawling ban that will last until 13 September.
In particular, at the end of 2023 Ravenna Civitas Cruise Port srl (Rccp), the concessionaire of the Ravenna cruise terminal of Porto Corsini, signed a collaboration agreement with Cestha (experimental center for the protection of habitats), a private non-profit research group aimed at environmental protection based in the ancient fish market of Marina di Ravenna. The agreement, which covers the period 2023/25, has the purpose of establishing a cooperative relationship for the implementation of initiatives for the growth of the territory in the environments of marine sciences and knowledge of the marine environment.
Cestha has activated a program of care, therapy, release, and tracking for one of the turtles present in its center. The specimen in question, Caretta caretta (Bobo), is a 30-year-old adult male, accidentally caught during trawling in the winter of 2023 by fishermen from Cesenatico (Forlì-Cesena) who collaborate with the research center. The choice to monitor this specimen arises from the need to have more information on the activities of male turtles: rarer and whose migrations have been less studied.
Tracking Bobo will allow to verify the wintering areas and mating areas. Intervening on these specimens means safeguarding the biodiversity of other countries as well, since these animals will return to where they were born to complete their reproductive cycle. The agreement between Rccp and Cestha is part of a broader program of Rccp activities focused on people, local communities, solidarity, the environment, research, and sustainability.