Threats to Turtles

1. OVERHARVESTING AND ILLEGAL TRADE

Continued unsustainable harvesting of sea turtles for human food and the trading of their components is taking place. Many people all around the world rely on turtle eggs and meat as a food supply and source of income. Some people also slaughter turtles for use in religious rituals and as medicine. This method results in the yearly loss of tens of thousands of sea turtles, decimating populations of the already endangered green and hawksbill sea turtles. Additionally, turtles are still being killed for both domestic and foreign markets. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a global accord among nations to control or prohibit international trade in threatened species, forbids the international trade in all species of sea turtles and any of their parts. Nevertheless, illegal trafficking continues.

HOW TO PREVENT IT?

• Raising awareness about illegal shell trade
• Educating tourists and suppliers
• International and regional anti-trade agreements;
• Trade controls within consumer and supplier states
• Collaboration between conservation groups and government agencies.

2. HABITAT LOSS

For nesting, sea turtles are reliant on beaches. Sea turtle breeding sites all around the world have been destroyed or disturbed by unchecked coastal development, beach traffic, and other human activity. For instance, hatchlings are disoriented by lights from buildings and highways, and vehicle traffic on beaches compacts the sand, making it difficult for female turtles to dig nests. Activities onshore, such as sedimentation from clearing land and nutrient runoff from agriculture, harm and destroy turtle feeding areas including coral reefs and seagrass meadows. Dredging and sand filling beach restoration efforts intended to safeguard seaside buildings have also been proved to be detrimental.

HOW TO PREVENT IT?

Establishing marine protected areas, ensuring sea turtles have a safe place to nest, feed, and migrate freely. We encourage governments to strengthen legislation on, and provide funding for, sea turtle protection. Also by supporting local turtle conservationists in many parts of the world to monitor and patrol turtle nests.

3. BY CATCH

Worldwide, hundreds of thousands of sea turtles are accidentally caught in shrimp trawl nets, on longline hooks and in fishing gill nets every year. They become fisheries' bycatch—animals accidentally caught in nets intended for other species. Sea turtles need to reach the surface to breathe and therefore many drown once caught. Incidental capture by fishing gear is the greatest threat to most sea turtles, especially endangered loggerheads, greens, and leatherbacks. This threat is increasing as fishing activity expands.

HOW TO PREVENT IT?

SUPPORTING INNOVATIONS IN FISHING GEAR, which would reduces marine turtle deaths by as much as 90 percent, without adversely affecting catches of swordfish and tuna. These "circle" hooks are much less likely to be swallowed by turtles than traditional J-shaped hooks, which cause suffocation or internal bleeding when swallowed.