Protecting Sea Turtles: Human Actions For Conservation

Sea turtles are a keystone species, which means they are vital to their environment and influence other species around them. They have existed for over 100 million years, but human activities have put them at risk of extinction. Humans can help sea turtles by reducing their consumption of single-use plastics and participating in coastal clean-ups, as trash in the ocean can entangle or be accidentally eaten by sea turtles. It is also important to keep beaches dark and safe for sea turtles, as lights can disorient hatchlings and discourage nesting females. Humans can also help by choosing seafood that has been caught in ways that do not harm or kill turtles and by supporting sea turtle conservation efforts.

Reduce plastic waste

Sea turtles are affected by plastic at every stage of their life. From the moment they are born, they face the risk of injury or death from ingesting or getting entangled in plastic. Plastic waste on nesting beaches can make it difficult for female turtles to find a place to nest, and trash on beaches can disorient and entangle hatchlings. In the ocean, sea turtles can get caught in plastic waste like discarded fishing gear or six-pack rings, and they can confuse plastic for their natural food, such as jellyfish, leading to intestinal blockages and death. Microplastics are also a concern, as they can be ingested by sea turtles and accumulate in their bodies.

To help reduce plastic waste and protect sea turtles, here are some detailed and direct instructions:

• Avoid single-use plastics: Say no to plastic bags, straws, disposable utensils, and takeaway coffee cups. Instead, opt for reusable alternatives like cloth shopping bags, metal or plastic water bottles, and paper or reusable straws.
• Be mindful of hidden plastics: Avoid products with unnecessary plastic packaging. Chewing gum, tea bags, wet wipes, and paper coffee cups often contain hidden plastics. Choose products with minimal or recyclable packaging.
• Recycle and repurpose: Sort your garbage and recycle plastic waste whenever possible. Support organizations that repurpose plastic waste into new products.
• Support responsible seafood consumption: Choose seafood that is caught using methods that do not harm or kill turtles. Consult sustainable seafood information networks and guidelines to make informed choices.
• Participate in cleanups: Join coastal cleanups or organize your own community cleanup events to collect trash from beaches, waterways, parks, or streets. Even if you don't live near the ocean, your waste can still make its way there through rivers or wind.
• Reduce plastic consumption: Every piece of plastic you don't buy is one less piece that can end up in the ocean. Send a signal to companies by reducing your purchase of plastic items and supporting brands that use minimal or recyclable packaging.
• Refrain from releasing balloons: Balloons can end up in the ocean, where sea turtles may mistake them for prey and ingest them.
• Educate and advocate: Spread awareness about the impact of plastic pollution on sea turtles and advocate for policies that reduce plastic use and improve recycling practices.

By following these instructions, you can significantly contribute to the reduction of plastic waste and help protect sea turtles and their habitats.

Support conservation efforts

Sea turtles are a keystone species, which means they are an important part of their environment and influence other species around them. They are also one of the very few animals that eat seagrass, which is important for the survival of many marine species. Sea turtles are, therefore, vital to the health of the planet and there are many ways humans can help support conservation efforts.

Support Conservation Organisations

One of the most direct ways to support sea turtle conservation is to donate to organisations working to protect them. These include non-profit organisations such as SEE Turtles, which runs conservation travel and volunteer tours, and the Sea Turtle Conservancy. The WWF is also committed to stopping the decline of sea turtles and has established and strengthened protected areas around nesting beaches.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reducing plastic waste is a key part of sea turtle conservation. Plastic debris can entangle sea turtles or be accidentally eaten, and balloons can be ingested after being mistaken for prey. Single-use plastic bottles, in particular, have been found with sea turtle bite markings. By switching to reusable water bottles and shopping bags, and reducing plastic use overall, you can help keep beaches and oceans clean and safe for sea turtles.

Choose Sustainable Seafood

Choosing seafood that has been caught in ways that do not harm or kill turtles is another way to support sea turtle conservation. Consult sustainable seafood information networks, such as Seafood Watch, to learn about how and where your seafood is caught. Teach your community about the impact of their seafood choices and speak to local businesses about the importance of sustainable practices.

Turtle-Friendly Tourism

When planning a beach vacation, choose hotels or resorts that are working to protect their surrounding environment and ensure the safety of nesting females, nests, and hatchlings. For example, do they turn off lights in the evening? Do they instruct guests on how to observe nesting sea turtles without causing harm? Do they support or partner with a beach monitoring program?

Follow Beach Rules

If you live near or are visiting a sea turtle nesting beach, there are several things you can do to minimise your impact on sea turtles:

• Close your drapes and turn off unnecessary lights at night
• Minimise the use of flashlights when walking on the beach at night, or use a turtle-safe flashlight
• If you encounter a sea turtle, do not touch, shine a light on, or take flash photographs of it; remain quiet and watch from a distance
• Keep all trash together and secure, and make sure to take it with you when you leave the beach
• Fill in holes and knock down sandcastles before you leave the beach
• Keep pets leashed at all times to prevent them from harming eggs and hatchlings
• Avoid driving on the beach

Adopt sustainable seafood practices

Humans can help sea turtles by adopting sustainable seafood practices. This is because commercial fisheries are the most serious threat to sea turtles, with hundreds of thousands becoming fisheries bycatch each year.

To adopt sustainable seafood practices, it is important to become a conscious and responsible seafood consumer. This means asking where and how your seafood was caught, and choosing seafood caught in ways that do not harm or kill turtles. For example, US shrimp fleets are mandated to use turtle excluder devices (TEDs), which allow sea turtles to escape so they do not drown.

There are online resources and certification programs to help you choose the most ocean-friendly seafood options, such as Seafood Watch and the Marine Stewardship Council. You can also support local fishermen by encouraging restaurants to serve local shrimp and fish, and by buying from local markets or docks.

It is also important to teach your friends and family about the impact of their seafood choices, and to advocate for better regulation of the fishing industry.

Reduce carbon footprint

To help sea turtles, humans can reduce their carbon footprint. Here are some ways to do that:

Turn Off

Make sure to turn off the lights when you leave a room.

Unplug

Appliances can draw energy even when they are powered off, so unplug those not in use. Use power strips to make shutting down multiple units simultaneously easier.

Make a Switch

Evaluate your commute to determine whether you can take public transportation, bike, walk, or carpool.

Visit the Environmental Protection Agency Website

Calculate your current carbon footprint on the Environmental Protection Agency website and learn more ways to trim it down.

Eat Low on the Food Chain

Livestock (meat and dairy) is responsible for 14.5% of global man-made greenhouse gas emissions. Every day that you forgo meat and dairy, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 8 pounds—that's 2,920 pounds a year.

Choose Organic and Local Foods

Choose foods that are in season. Transporting food from far away uses fossil fuels for fuel and for cooling to keep foods from spoiling.

Buy Foodstuffs in Bulk

Buy foodstuffs in bulk when possible, using your own reusable container.

Reduce Food Waste

Reduce your food waste by planning meals ahead of time, freezing the excess, and reusing leftovers.

Protect nesting beaches

Protecting nesting beaches is crucial for sea turtle conservation. Sea turtles are dependent on beaches for nesting, and human activities have threatened their nesting sites worldwide. Here are some ways to protect sea turtle nesting beaches:

• Keep the beaches dark: Lights from roads and buildings disorient hatchlings and discourage female turtles from coming onto the beach to lay their eggs. To protect nesting beaches, it is essential to turn off, shield, or redirect lights visible from the beach.
• Minimize human disturbances: Do not disturb nesting turtles, nests, or hatchlings. Keep pets away from nesting areas, fill in holes, and remove beach equipment like chairs, umbrellas, and boats at night to ensure sea turtles are not turned away.
• Control beach traffic: Driving on the beach can crush incubating eggs, and tire tracks can trap hatchlings. Avoid driving on the beach, and if driving is permitted, ensure it is done responsibly and does not impact the turtles' ability to nest.
• Maintain beach and dune health: Sea turtles provide important nutrients for dune vegetation through the eggs and hatchlings that don't survive. Removing trash and debris from the beach and participating in coastal clean-ups can help maintain the health of the beach and dune ecosystem.
• Support responsible tourism: Choose hotels or resorts that are committed to protecting the environment and ensuring the safety of nesting females, nests, and hatchlings. Educate tourists about the importance of following rules and guidelines when visiting nesting beaches.
• Protect beaches from coastal development: Uncontrolled coastal development can destroy or disturb sea turtle nesting habitats. Advocate for responsible development practices that take into account the need to protect these critical habitats.
• Address climate change: Climate change impacts sea turtle nesting sites, altering sand temperatures and affecting the sex of hatchlings. Reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change can help protect nesting beaches and ensure the long-term survival of sea turtles.

Frequently asked questions