Sea turtles have long fascinated people and have figured prominently in the mythology and folklore of many cultures. Unfortunately, the spiritual significance of sea turtles has not saved them from being exploited for both food and for profit. Millions of sea turtles once roamed the earth’s oceans, but now only a fraction remain.

Green Sea Turtle. photo credit: Brocken Inaglory

Sea turtles are a fundamental link in marine ecosystems. They help maintain the health of seagrass beds and coral reefs that benefit commercially valuable species such as shrimp, lobster, and tuna. Sea turtles are the living representatives of a group of reptiles that have existed on Earth and traveled our seas for the last 100 million years. Turtles have major cultural significance and tourism value. Five of the seven species are found around the world, mainly in tropical and subtropical waters. The remaining two species, though, have relatively restricted ranges: Kemp’s ridley is found mainly off the coasts of Texas and eastern Mexico, and along the eastern US seaboard, while the flatback turtle is located around northern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea.

Over the last 200 years, human activities have tipped the scales against the survival of these ancient mariners. Slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin, and shells, sea turtles suffer from poaching and over-exploitation. They also face habitat destruction and accidental capture—known as bycatch—in fishing gear. Climate change has an impact on turtle nesting sites; it alters sand temperatures, which then affects the sex of hatchlings.

In North America, leatherback, hawksbill and Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles are classified as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act, while the loggerhead, olive ridley, and green sea turtles are listed as Threatened. Internationally, hawksbill and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are listed as Critically Endangered (facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), while leatherbacks, loggerheads, and olive ridleys are listed as Vulnerable (facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future), and greens were recently listed as Least Concern (not facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future).

The good news is that there are many organizations working hard to save the sea turtles, and there are things you can do to help:

Volunteer with one of NOAA’s 60 Citizen Science Projects.

Become a conscious and responsible seafood consumer by asking where and how your seafood was caught. Choose seafood caught in ways that do not harm or kill turtles. Consult sustainable seafood information networks to learn about how and where your seafood is caught.

Reduce marine debris that may entangle or be accidentally eaten by sea turtles, and participate in coastal clean-ups and reduce plastic use to keep our beaches and ocean clean. Trash in the ocean can harm sea turtles and other creatures that live there.

Never abandon fishing gear—hooks, lines, or nets left in the water can entangle and kill sea turtles, use barbless circle hooks, and recycle fishing line and discard your trash on shore in trash receptacles. Change fishing location if sea turtles are in the area and show interest in your bait or catch—don’t cast your line if a sea turtle is in the area.

Learn more at one of these fantastic websites:

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sea-turtle/

https://conserveturtles.org/sea-turtles/

https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/sea-turtles