Sea turtles have been swimming in the world’s oceans for over 100 million years. However, today the survival of these living relics from the age of dinosaurs is threatened.
Of the seven species, three — the green turtle, the hawksbill, and the Kemp’s ridley — are listed as endangered or critically endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a nonprofit organization. Another three — the leatherback, olive ridley, and loggerhead — are listed as “vulnerable,” while there is not enough data to determine the status of the flatback turtle.
Conservationists want to protect sea turtles, which play important roles in the marine ecosystem.
Leatherbacks and hawksbills keep jellyfish and sponges, respectively, in check. Green turtles eat seagrass, which must be kept short for many fish species to reproduce in it.
Facing the Threats
Bycatch — accidental capture through imprecise fishing methods intended to catch other marine creatures — is a serious concern. Beach development is another issue, as sea turtles lay their eggs on beaches and hatchlings must make their way to the ocean without interference.
Christine Dawson, who runs a conservation office at the U.S. State Department, cites “the devastating loss of nature, of biodiversity in all its richness” as the most concerning trend.
“This is exacerbated by the enormous volumes of illegal wildlife circulating around the globe, facilitated by organized criminal networks that profit from wildlife trafficking,” she said. Such trafficking includes the black market trade of sea turtle eggs, shells, and meat.
But there is some good news, according to Joseph Fette from the State Department. Turtle exclusion devices, or TEDs, are reducing bycatch by commercial fishermen. In nations where fishermen have been using TEDs for some time, there is broad acceptance and appreciation for the fact that a TED not only saves sea turtles but also makes trawling more efficient, Fette said.
Three other efforts may give sea turtles a chance, he said: protecting beaches during nesting periods; combating the consumption of sea turtles and their eggs; and fighting the trafficking of their shells and meat.
Trafficking is receiving “high attention as a serious organized crime,” Dawson said. “International organizations, governments, NGOs, and community stakeholders are getting smarter and better at combating wildlife trafficking — and recognizing the patterns and convergence with other forms of conservation crimes.”
International Cooperation
Additional advances to protect sea turtles are underway — including illuminated gillnets, which are being tested in Peru, Mexico, Indonesia, and elsewhere. “The first
test of illuminated gillnets began about a decade ago,” said Ann Marie Lauritsen, a sea turtle conservation specialist at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (a U.S. Department of the Interior agency).
“The observed decrease in the number of sea turtles caught incidentally suggests that illuminated nets may be an effective conservation tool for certain gillnet fisheries operating at night,” she said. “Testing continues so we can better understand the effectiveness of illuminated gillnets under various environmental conditions and to understand if there are species-related differences in sea turtle interactions.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with governments and NGOs worldwide to “conduct and share research on sea turtles, protect nesting areas, and mark sea turtles to track their movements,” Fette said. Similarly, the National Marine Fisheries Service conducts research and develops better fishing methods globally to reduce harm to sea turtles.
The State Department supports the efforts of both agencies and manages a program to certify nations whose shrimp harvesting methods do not harm sea turtles.
The Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles promotes the protection, conservation, and recovery of six species of turtles and their habitats in the waters of signatory countries throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.
Source: share.america.gov, By Lauren Monsen
Photo 1: shutterstock Photo 2: A leatherback sea turtle, which can weigh up to 1,500 pounds, returns to the ocean after treatment by veterinarians in South Carolina. (© Bruce Smith/AP Images) Photo 3: A hatchling olive ridley crawls toward the sea in Sayulita, Mexico. (© Marco Ugarte/AP Images) Photo 4: A marked sea turtle nest is shown in Surfside, Florida. (© Wilfredo Lee/AP Images)