WELCOME TO the
North CYPRUS SOcIety for the protectIon
of turtles
of turtles
The Society for the Protection of Turtles (SPOT) was founded in the late 1980s by British expatriates Ian and Celia Bell and local philanthropist Kutlay Keço.
In 1988 a preliminary field study found nesting of green and loggerhead turtles to be significant. SPOT contacted Glasgow University and in 1992 a volunteer expedition team made a thorough survey. On the basis of this expedition, Kutlay committed to provide volunteer accommodation in Alagadi which is still used 25 years on by the Marine Turtle Conservation Project (MTCP). MTCP continues as a collaboration between SPOT, University of Exeter’s Marine Turtle Research Group and the North Cyprus Department for Environmental Protection.
Although initially established as an organisation for conserving sea turtles, today SPOT has increased its area of research and projects concering marine life. These include:
- Sea Turtles
- Monk Seals
- Fisheries
- Dolphins & Whales
- Sharks and Rays
- Bioinvasives
- Pollution
OUR RESEARCH AND PROJECT AREAS
GET INVOLVED
There are many ways to be part of our organisation. After all, any kind of contribution is a return on the protection and conservation of marine life on our island.
