Sea turtles are great animals, almost all of which are at-risk. Whether it is plastic or poaching, they live at risk at each turn. Thus, to make these old mariners live and survive in the ocean to save the turtles, we are celebrating World Turtle Day by showing what our allies are doing in Costa Rica and Malaysia. Their Sea Turtle Conservation Program guards the turtle nests and teaches the groups.
Why Does Sea Turtle Conservation Matters?
Sea turtles are vital to marine lives and almost all of the species are at risk. Hence, their loss would cause damage to seagrass beds, coral reefs, and the entire ocean ecosystem. In order to learn what do turtles do for the environment, one must know why they must be saved. Hence, such big risks include:
- Poaching and hunting meat, shells, and eggs.
- Destroy seashores and habitat.
- Pollution, especially that of plastics and toxins.
- Incidental fishing gear trapping.
- Nesting and hatchlings are being affected by climate change.
What is World Turtle Day?
It is a day to raise awareness about turtles and tortoises, educate the masses, and make safe moves. Even simpler things, such as doing your shopping with reusable,/not plastic shopping bags, will go a long way to make sure that sea turtles and their habitats are kept safe.
The fact is that, as per Oceana, turtles are vital since they keep the well-being of seagrass beds and coral reef habitats, enabling other animals to live in the ocean. Thus, their possible loss would affect the entire ocean on a large scale.
What are the Largest threats to sea Turtles?
Several factors endanger the lives of sea turtles. That is why we need to know that sea turtles are at-risk by both nature and man. Hence, it is vital to save the turtles.
Climate Change
Sea turtle eggs are male or female, based on the temperature. Rising heat can alter sex ratios to produce fewer or more men and disrupt reproduction. Nesting beaches, sea coral, and the supply of seagrass are also affected by climate change.
Poaching and Hunting
The illegal harvesting of turtle eggs to consume, turtle hunting for their meat and shells, also occurs. In Costa Rica, therefore, an egg fetches USD $1-2, and thus a temp mark of the economy on the people who dwell in the nesting shores.
Pollution and Plastic Waste
Plastics are one of the big issues. Turtles also make mistakes by eating floating plastic, that clog their intestines. Hence, turtles can get a fishing lines, balloons, and rubbish items and be injured or die.
Nestering Site Degradation and Coastal Development
Turtles visit the beaches where they were hatched to lay eggs. Building on the coasts, artificial light, or items such as chairs, can confuse or injure turtles and hatchlings.
Fishing Practices
Injuries or death come to many turtles even when they are released, due to being caught wrongly in fishing nets.
Pollution Beyond Plastic
Toxic metals, oil spillage, and agricultural or industrial runoff pollute water and food sources and may have an impact on turtle health and the marine ecosystem.
What are the Sea Turtle Conservation Projects?
We work with two conservation groups on the habitat and saving sea turtles in Costa Rica and Malaysia. Hence, the Sea Turtle Conservation Program relies heavily on the attention of the staff engaged in patrols, nest moving, and night hatchling releases.
What are the benefits of the Costa Rica Sea Turtle Conservation Project to the Turtles?
In Costa Rica, we work with long-term conservation solutions with our partner. They save the 4 species of Pacific Black, Olive Ridley, Leatherback, and Hawksbill turtles. Thus, the big programmes are:
Nest Protection on the Caribbean Coast
Project employees, including the re-formed poachers, patrol beaches at night to find nests and transport them to safe hatcheries. Hence, they are safely released into the ocean when they are hatched.
In-Water Surveys and Recovery Centre
They not only treat rescued turtles, but also collect data on turtle behaviour, population, feeding behaviour, and ideas into their habitat use, which leads to useful marine turtle conservation.
Community Alternatives
Group-based tourism and sustainability practices ensure that locals reduce poaching to enable conservation efforts.
Costa Rica Sea Turtle Project Highlights (2019)
- 296 Leatherback nests protected → 6,749 hatchlings released
- 49 Green turtle nests protected → 4,227 hatchlings released
- 1,186 Hawksbill hatchlings released
- 100+ turtles rehabilitated and returned to the wild
What Does the Future Hold for Sea Turtle Conservation?
Both projects have a great impact in terms of making the nests safe, studying and collecting key data on the population of turtles, and the adversities threatening them as well. Despite some of the steps that are taken, a lot remains to be done. Further aid in such a Sea Turtle Conservation Program will be a giant stride leading to research, education, and the survival of the sea turtles in the long run. The Humans helping sea turtles will be crucial not only in scientific life, but also in the education process.
What You Can Do To Preserve Sea Turtle Conservation
- Volunteer: Help in patrolling the beaches, nest watching, and study.
- Viral Message: Teach others about sea turtles and all of the threats they are exposed to.
- Say no to plastic: Reduce plastic use at the single-use level to slow the waste of the oceans.
- Donate: Help the Sea Turtle Conservation Program get a donation or have a fundraiser of your own; there are no donations that are too small.