Sea Turtle Conservation
Sea Turtles for Healthy Oceans
Sea turtles, recognized as keystone species, are crucial in sustaining the health of oceans. They are essential to their environment, influencing other species and contributing significantly to ocean ecosystems.
They help control prey populations, such as leatherbacks managing jellyfish numbers and hawksbills aiding reefs by consuming sponges. Turtle nesting provides vital nutrients to coastal vegetation, supporting beach ecosystems. The abundance of hatchlings is a crucial food source for birds, fish, and mammals during nesting seasons. Green turtles graze on seagrass beds, which prevents overgrowth, benefiting species living in the seagrass beds and aiding carbon storage.
Beyond their ecological significance, sea turtles are also essential to coastal economies, providing jobs and income through activities like turtle watching and diving. Additionally, many indigenous communities hold sea turtles in high regard as cultural symbols.
Struggle for Survival
Globally, sea turtles face severe threats, with six of the seven species classified as threatened or endangered due to human activities. They are susceptible to entanglement in fishing gear, such as long lines and shrimp nets; the fishing industry contributes to the death of thousands to tens of thousands of sea turtles each year. Despite being banned in most countries, the consumption and illegal trade of turtle eggs and meat persist. Development along coasts disrupts turtle nesting, endangering hatchlings. The ingestion and entanglement of plastic and marine debris present additional hazards, impacting turtles in the water and on beaches. Global warming and rising temperatures could lead to female-only turtle births. Climate change also damages nesting beaches and coral reefs, vital habitats for sea turtles.
Giving Hatchlings a Head Start
Growing human population and coastal development have disrupted sea turtle nesting. The alteration of coastlines affects turtles when they come ashore to lay their eggs. Disturbances caused by human presence on the beach at night, obstacles like furniture left overnight, and coastal armoring structures hinder nesting females. Nests face predation from domesticated animals like dogs and cats and are susceptible to poaching, as turtle eggs are consumed in many countries. Furthermore, increased beachfront development contributes to rising light pollution, disorientating sea turtle hatchlings.
In areas where nests face threats such as flooding, erosion, predation, or poaching, sea turtle hatcheries play an essential role. Hatcheries enhance the hatching success rate by protecting the eggs until they hatch. Beyond protection, some hatcheries also serve as educational platforms to raise awareness about sea turtles and their conservation among local communities and visitors.
Monitoring the hatching success provides valuable insights, enabling informed management decisions based on site-specific data rather than relying on default practices or results from other nesting beaches.