The Cyprus Government finances the project. In 1976 and 1977, a thorough survey of the turtle breeding beaches was undertaken. It showed that Green turtles were breeding on several beaches, including those in the Ayia Napa area and the unspoilt surf-swept west coast beaches north of Paphos. Surveys on turtle nesting undertaken since then confirm these initial observations. However, nesting on the Ayia Napa beaches and on the beaches between Maa and Paphos has ceased because of the intensive use of these beaches for tourism, recreation etc.
Turtles still have to breathe air and they have to come up on land to lay their eggs.
Turtles do not lay every year. In Cyprus they lay every 2-4 years from the beginning of June until the middle of August. During the breeding season they lay 3-5 times, every two weeks. Each clutch, of about 100 eggs, is layed 50-70 cm deep, in a hole dug in the sand in the quiet of the night. The hatchlings emerge from the sand at night, about seven weeks later, and head directly and infallibly towards the sea.