Biggest Threats to
sea turtles
PLASTICS AND FISHING
• Entanglement in fishing gear: Turtles get caught on long-lines, in shrimp nets, and get injured with bomb fishing.
• Plastic and other marine debris: Turtles eat plastic, get caught in it, have to wade through it in the water and on beaches, and microplastic can affect nests and hatchlings.
OVERFISHING AND HUNTING
• Consumption and illegal trade of eggs and meat: Turtle eggs are considered to be an aphrodisiac in many places (with no basis in science) and their meat (primarily green turtles) is still consumed, even though both are illegal in most countries.
• Turtleshell Trade: Hawksbill turtles in many places are prized for their shells, which are used as decorations or turned into products like jewelry and other crafts.
OVER DEVELOPMENT
• Coastal development: Building on nesting beaches, mangroves, and other important coastal areas can affect turtles ability to nest and feed and prevent hatchlings from surviving.
• Global warming: Rising temperatures increase sand temperatures, which can cause only females to be born. Climate change also impacts sea level rise, which can erode nesting beaches, and cause coral bleaching, an important habitat for hawksbills.
AT RISK SPECIES
HAWKSBILLS: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
LOGGERHEADS: VULNERABLE
GREENS: ENDANGERED
Biggest threat is the turtle shell trade.
Biggest threat is bycatch from fishing.
Biggest threat is the consumption of their meat and eggs.
Become Involved!
Contact your local environmental center for more efforts towards sustainable practices! Even if you don’t live within the area of the coast, there are still things you can do to help.