Each year from July through September, thousands of sea turtle hatchlings are released into the Mediterranean Sea along Israel’s coast as part of a conservation effort led by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and its National Sea Turtle Rescue Center. This initiative aims to support the populations of green and loggerhead sea turtles, both species that have seen steep declines over the past century. Despite ongoing military conflict in the region, conservationists continue their work to monitor and protect the turtles on Israel’s beaches.

The National Sea Turtle Rescue Center, located in Beit Yannai within Alexander Stream National Park, has been operating since 1999. It is staffed by 10 employees and supported by approximately 300 volunteers who manage the delicate work of safeguarding nesting sites from threats such as human activity, artificial lighting, and natural predators. The center also cares for injured turtles, many of which are harmed by fishing gear entanglement or occasional explosions offshore.

In December 2025, the center completed a major upgrade with a NIS 30 million overhaul, adding facilities such as an on-site operating room and X-ray capabilities to enhance rehabilitation efforts. A significant element of the center’s work is its captive breeding program for green sea turtles—the first of its kind in the world. Known as the Green Project and launched in 2002, it is a long-term initiative designed to increase turtle populations, though it takes two to three decades for turtles to reach sexual maturity and contribute to wild populations.

A recent report from February 2026 indicated progress with the program producing its first 11 viable egg clutches. This includes turtles with disabilities, giving them an opportunity to reproduce. Conservation experts note the critical sensitivity of the reproductive period, emphasizing that damage at this stage could have long-lasting effects on overall population numbers.

The conflict in the region, marked by rocket and drone attacks on the coastal areas where turtles nest, has disrupted monitoring efforts at times. The increased danger has limited access to some nesting sites, creating challenges in tracking nests. However, an unexpected ecological paradox has emerged: the reduction of human presence during periods of intensified fighting has led to quieter beaches, which may benefit the turtles by reducing disturbances.

According to estimates from the rescue center, approximately 27 green sea turtle females nested on Israeli beaches last year, producing 109 nests in total. While the local population shows signs of growth, experts caution that the numbers remain far below historical levels, with only around 450 breeding green turtles remaining in the entire Mediterranean region.

Environmental threats beyond conflict persist, particularly plastic pollution causing entanglement injuries. Volunteers, including marine biology students, play a vital role in daily care and health monitoring of injured turtles. Despite the complex backdrop of security challenges, officials and volunteers remain hopeful that conservation efforts will continue to bear fruit, helping to stabilize and replenish these vulnerable marine species. The center’s historical success rate for releasing rehabilitated turtles back into the sea stands at approximately 70 percent, underscoring the ongoing commitment to marine wildlife conservation in Israel.