World Sea Turtle Day

Human threats are too much for a sea turtle to handle.

The 16th of June is a day that has been created as an opportunity to increase people’s knowledge about these creatures existence, to encourage people to take action and to celebrate the place of a sea turtle in this world. The measures which will be adopted in the next few years to protect sea turtles can be vital for the survival of this species.

Through my studies and internships, I have had the pleasure to learn more about these marine creatures which have been around for 110 million years! I have also learnt how exceptionally important their role is to the ecosystem by maintaining healthy seagrass beds and coral reefs, helping to balance marine food webs.

Habitat destruction, pollution, bycatch and poaching are only some of the factors that are making these species more and more vulnerable. In order for some of these threats to decrease, a radical change has to be taken by leaders of industries, firms and branches.
However, there is always something we can all do in our everyday lives to help.

A total of 7 species of sea turtles swim around the world’s oceans and make incredibly long journeys between their feeding and breeding areas. Sea turtles mate at sea, the females then lay their eggs on beaches where they dig a hole for them. After around 8 weeks, the eggs hatch and the small hatchling make their way to sea.

Most people reading this may be thinking: “well, how am I influencing the life of a sea turtle? What can I do to help?” You may think there is nothing much you can do but that’s absolutely not the case; there are a lot of small things that if every single living person on this Earth were to do, the difference would be huge. Keep reading!

Now let me talk about some of the main threats that sea turtles have to face.

Plastic keeps entering our oceans.

In the case of turtles, the main constituent of their diet is Jellyfish, which look just like a plastic bag to them. The number of turtles that are being rescued and dying due to plastic ingestion keeps increasing. Most of them fill their stomachs up with plastic and by feeling full, they don’t eat anymore; this way, they end up dying of food deprivation.

The materials of the fishing gear used needs to change.

More and more sea turtles are being found entangled in discarded or lost fishing gear. Also known as ghost nets, once left in the ocean they drift and kill most organisms they encounter on their way. Therefore, fisherman and fishing industries need to make some drastic changes in the next years, before it is too late to do so.

Climate change is always involved.

The temperature of the sand affects the outcome of the hatchlings’ sex. Researchers have discovered that the warmer the temperature of the sand, the higher ratio of females there is. Consequently, if temperatures keep increasing and more female turtles are born, there will then be fewer males for them to breed with. If there is no breeding, the population will collapse and one day become extinct.

Your boat trips are an influence too.

More and more marine areas in the world are integrating rules to protect marine species from boat traffic. In fact, speed limits are the most important rules to follow and most times, the major cause for sea turtles injuries.

What can you do to help?

You can start off by reducing your singe-use plastic! Choose 3 single-use plastics you use and commit to stop and to utilize an alternative.
Participate in beach clean-ups. Either with a group in your area or close-by. If there isn’t a group already doing so maybe you could be the one to start it off!

Additionally, support those organizations that work for the health of the oceans (sea turtles in specific in this case!). Some of my favourites are SeeTurtles, Turtle Foundation, Sea Turtle Foundation, the Sea Turtle Conservancy and Ningaloo Turtles.

Remember to always respect someone else’s environment.

Also, when you go snorkelling or diving, don’t disrupt these species, don’t stick around or keep swimming along with them for too long. Whenever they want to and don’t feel threatened, they might come and check you out a little themselves!

If you know that turtles can be found in the waters you find yourself in, slow your boat down, pay attention to the oceans’ surface and don’t throw trash in the water.

Just enjoy the moment and be grateful for being the chance to be where you are seeing these creatures in their natural environment. Respect their home like you would want anyone to respect yours.

Last but not least, never forget how important the ocean and all its species are to our own lives. It’s a circle, if one thing ends it all will. So, if you don’t want to do it for the interest of the animals or for preserving nature, do it for your own life.