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Home › Sea Life Facts › Project AWARE › Save Turtles

10 Ways to Save Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are tranquil cold-blooded marine reptiles that exist in most of the major oceans. Yet, each of the seven turtle species is classified as either vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.

So, what intemperate human activities have contributed most to their decline and what are some simple things we can all do to improve the population trend?

What are the Main Threats to Sea Turtles?

The biggest threat to sea turtle populations is habitat loss (as a result of coastal development and climate change).

But, other factors why their survival is in severe jeopardy include:

• Bycatch (e.g. being caught unintentionally in the fishing industry).
• Ocean pollution (including the ingestion of harmful plastics).
• Poaching and illegal harvesting (overconsumption of turtle meat, eggs, shells, and oil).
• Predation of eggs and hatchlings (animals digging up nests for food).

Pro Tip: Official estimates suggest over half of all 7 marine turtle species have ingested plastic or other types of human waste. Soft plastic bags are extremely harmful for the general "state of the world's sea turtles" because they often mistake them for food (e.g. jellyfish).

Does the Fishing Industry Protect the Turtles?

Even though they need to breathe air, sea turtles are in fact marine reptiles that spend almost all of their life in the world's oceans.

Current estimates suggest only one out of every one thousand marine turtle hatchlings will actually make it to full adulthood. This is a major contribution to the potential for turtle extinction.

Why?

One reason is the unnecessary drownings that occur every year because they get snagged in fishing nets and long lines, such as when rising to the surface to breathe.

The longlines used in commercial fishing vary in length from two (2) to one hundred (100) kilometres long.

Some suggest the unfortunate death of tens of thousands of turtles is an accidental tragedy of fishing industry materials.

Nonetheless, when trawlers use modern fishing techniques, such as larger hooks and traps, less turtles die from being trapped.

As a consequence of that, many biologists consider fishing bycatch as being the biggest killer of sea turtles.

Important: Another section explains how marine animals become entangled and the proper steps for initiating an authorised entanglement response.

Why Do Sea Turtles Eat Plastic Bags?

If it's going to kill them, why do they eat plastic garbage bags and other items of trash? The simple answer is that many turtles eat some jellyfish species as a daily food source, especially the Portuguese man o' war and the lion's mane jellyfish.

Hence, they often mistake small white or transparent floating plastic bags as cnidarians. Furthermore, it's rare for them to fully digest large pieces of plastic after consuming them. In this situation, they will die a slow and painful death from a blocked airway or an obstructed digestive passage.

In fact, marine garbage pollution and abandoned commercial fishing and gill nets cause more entanglement issues which often results in countless drowned turtles.

Illegal harvesting of Turtle Meat and Eggs

Regrettably, for many years turtle eggs and meat have been considered tasty to eat in far too many countries. The unsustainable consumption is another reason why protecting the turtles is an important part of healthy underwater environments.

As a consequence of the endangerment to the turtle species, Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) currently states that turtle consumption is illegal in some areas... but not all.

Even so, overconsumption - and the illegal trade in sea turtle body parts, particularly the fusiform shells and eggs - continues in some countries.

Pro Tip: Turtle shells are used in jewelry and for making attractive handicrafts. As if that wasn't bad enough, their oil is also used in cosmetics and medicine production. This is the main reason why the most threatened sea turtle is Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii). The IUCN Red List cites them as being "Critically Endangered" with current population trend remaining as "unknown".

Coastline Degradation and Development

Coastline development, beach erosion, and construction also threaten turtle reproductive behaviour. Females nest in sandy beaches and need safe beach access during the breeding season.

The female lays her eggs in the sand and the anxious tiny hatchlings scamper towards the ocean guided by bright lights (e.g. the moon).

But, instead of heading to the safety of the water horizon, newly hatched turtles often get disoriented and head for artificial lights on the shore.

Simple Ways to Help Save the Sea Turtles

Human activities and behaviour are directly responsible for a decline in some marine wildlife populations. However, changing inconsiderate and thoughtless attitudes will help to save these defenseless creatures. This is how we can help sea turtles from being endangered.

Furthermore, when humans help to save sea turtles from extinction it can be a rewarding and uplifting experience. Here are ten ways we can help sea turtles from going extinct.

1. Take Photos and Memories... Not Souvenirs

Despite seeing countless examples of bad scuba diver behaviour, such as of touching, chasing, and riding on their huge shells, turtles are in fact sensitive marine creatures.

2. Avoid Turtle Nesting Sites

Despite their sensitivity, they also have large powerful jaws that can deliver a nasty bite. They are easily stressed, but are often unperturbed for long periods by observing divers' who do not touch or harass them.

3. Get Involved In Underwater and Beach Clean-Ups

Helping organise environmental conservation activities is a rewarding experience. Hence, participating in a beach or underwater clean-up is uplifting and satisfying.

Not only are you helping to protect some of the best dive sites around the world, but you're also making it a safer habitat in which marine animals can live.

Important: Trash, especially underwater garbage pollution, is downright ugly at best and selfishly intemperate at the worst.

4. Release Entangled Turtles

Many marine creatures die a slow and agonising death underwater from consuming human waste products. It is a disgusting hallmark of current generations.

But, divers have unique opportunities to set entangled creatures free. Saving a turtle's precious life is comparable to saving the family pet - and totally justified if you can do so safely.

Scuba divers are often called the "ambassadors of the sea" and for good reasons. We get to see the real damage caused by discarded plastic garbage in our oceans when marine debris is mistaken as food by aquatic animals and birds.

5. Say No to Plastic Products

Non-divers can also contribute enormously to the growing awareness of saving sea turtles by reducing dependency on plastic items, especially shopping carrier bags.

For example, cut the plastic used to hold "six-pack" drinks before you discard it in the trash can. Doing so greatly reduces the number of animals that die from getting trapped in these deadly drink rings.

Keeping trash out of the world's oceans will not only help to conserve sea turtles, but it's also commendable action that everyone can take for the sake of future generations.

6. Join a Turtle Conservation Group

Turtle conservation and research groups invite and welcome participation or sponsorship support to help fund their cause.

Helping a research group gives you an amazing opportunity to witness female turtle nesting, egg depositing, and juvenile hatchery. As a volunteer, you would also get to see how researchers measure, collect data, and tag these amazing reptiles.

7. Reduce the Lighting on Turtle Nesting Beaches

Nesting female turtles should be observed quietly from a distance. The main reason is to avoid frightening her with flashing lights and to allow "natural light sources" guide newly hatched baby turtles towards the water.

8. Choose to Eat Responsibly Caught Seafood

Scuba divers - and non-divers - can help to save turtles from extinction by not consuming turtle meat. Moreover, do not buy trinkets and jewelry made from their shells to avoid supporting the black market trade in turtle body parts.

9. Stay Alert If You Go Boating

Here are three ways you can avoid harming sea turtle species when you're boating:

• Slow down and reduce your speed to 5–10 knots when near to harbours and within sixty (60) metres (200 feet) of the shore.
• Watch for sea turtles that may be swimming in the water near to your boat, especially if there are species of jellyfish present or schools of small fishes.
• Be a conscientious boater and give space to any large marine creatures. Stay a minimum of fifty (50) metres away from sea turtles.

10. Help Save the Turtles through Adoption

Adopting any endangered marine animal is a praiseworthy project. You can help to protect turtles through several organisations, such as the Sea Turtle Conservancy, the Olive Ridley Project, and the Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

Pro Tip: In a nutshell, there are simple ways we can all reduce marine debris, reduce plastic waste, and reduce the carbon footprint left by human behaviours.

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