what is the biggest threat to sea turtles

What are the major threats to sea turtles?

These threats include coastal development, pollution, direct harvest, invasive species and vessel strikes. With the encroachment of hotels, parking lots and housing along nesting beaches, female turtles are forced to use suboptimal nesting habitats.

What is the biggest killer of sea turtles?

Bycatch in Fishing Gear The primary threat to sea turtles is their unintended capture in fishing gear which can result in drowning or cause injuries that lead to death or debilitation (for example, swallowing hooks or flipper entanglement). The term for this unintended capture is bycatch.

What are 3 reasons sea turtles are endangered?

However, the greatest threats to sea turtles aren't from natural predators; they are from humans. Accidental catch in commercial fisheries or entanglement in marine debris are serious threats to sea turtles, as well as destruction of beach habitat, harvesting or poaching for meat and eggs, and even boat strikes.

What is the main cause of sea turtles death?

Pollution: Plastics, discarded fishing gear, petroleum by-products, and other debris harm and kill sea turtles through ingestion and entanglement. Light pollution disrupts nesting behavior and causes hatchling death by leading them away from the sea.

What eats a sea turtle?

Adult sea turtles have a few predators, mostly large sharks. Tiger sharks, in particular, are known for eating sea turtles. Killer whales have been known to prey on leatherback turtles. Fishes, dogs, seabirds, raccoons, ghost crabs, and other predators prey on eggs and hatchlings.

What are the predators of sea turtles?

The Problem: Around the globe, sea turtles and their eggs fall victim to many natural predators. Raccoons, ghost crabs and sharks all play a role in the natural food chain as sea turtle predators. However, predation threats increase where human development reaches nesting beaches.

How many sea turtles are killed each year?

4,600 Sea Turtles Killed Yearly in U.S. Fisheries, Study Finds - Oceana.

How are sea turtles going extinct?

Not extinctSea turtles / Extinction status

How many sea turtles are left in the world 2022?

6.5 million sea turtlesThere are over 2,500 species of sea turtles. Recent estimates of sea turtle populations state that nearly 6.5 million sea turtles are left in the wild today. The numbers vary for each species. The population of the Hawksbill turtle, a critically endangered species, ranges from 57,000 to 83,000.

What happens to sea turtles if they eat plastic?

Sharp plastics can rupture internal organs and bags can cause intestinal blockages leaving turtles unable to feed, resulting in starvation. Even if they survive, consuming plastic can make turtles unnaturally buoyant, which can stunt their growth and lead to slow reproduction rates.

Is turtle Pee harmful to humans?

It is not illegal to own or to buy a turtle under a shell length of 4 inches, again, unless it is a protected species. "Turtle urine causes brain damage in humans when it comes in contact with your skin."

How many turtles are killed by plastic?

It is estimated that more than 1,000 turtles die every year after getting entangled in plastic, and this number is almost certainly a gross underestimate.

What food kills turtles?

Toxic Plants For example, tomatoes are safe and they're often a favorite of box turtles. But tomato leaves and vines are toxic. Other plants toxic to box turtles include rhubarb leaves, holly, oleander, avocado leaves and seeds, and plants in the nightshade family.

Which turtles are most likely to be at risk and why?

Loggerhead, Green and Kemp's ridley sea turtles are most in danger for fisheries related deaths because of where they live and nest, and because of their already dangerously low populations.

Do some sea turtles eat sponges?

They mainly eat sponges, but also occasionally a small amount of tunicates, shrimps and squids. The digestive systems of adult hawksbills are able to neutralize the sharp, glass spicules (small structural elements), and toxic chemicals found in many of the sponges they consume.

How do you make sea turtles in Minecraft?

They lay turtle eggs which can hatch to produce additional sea turtles. Sea turtles can be bred with seagrass. After two sea turtles are fed seagrass, one of them will burrow into nearby sand and lay 1-4 eggs. After a few minutes, the eggs will emit a cracking sound and hatch into baby sea turtles.

What are the predators that sea turtles face?

In nature, sea turtles face a host of life and death obstacles to their survival. Predators such as raccoons, crabs and ants raid eggs and hatchlings still in the nest. Once they emerge, hatchlings make bite-sized meals for birds, crabs and a host of predators in the ocean. After reaching adulthood, sea turtles are relatively ...

What are the effects of marine pollution on turtles?

Marine Pollution. Photo Courtesy of Dean Bagley, UCF. Marine pollution can have serious impacts on both sea turtles and the food they eat. New research suggests that a disease now killing many sea turtles (fibropapillomas) may be linked to pollution in the oceans and in near-shore waters.

How many turtles are killed in gill nets?

Global estimates of annual capture, injury and mortality are staggering – 150,000 turtles of all species killed in shrimp trawls, more than 200,000 loggerheads and 50,000 leatherbacks captured, injured or killed by longlines, and large numbers of all species drowned in gill nets. The extent of gill net mortality is unknown, but sea turtle capture is significant where studied, and the drowning of sea turtles in gill nets may be comparable to trawl and longline mortality. Deaths in gill nets are particularly hard to quantify because these nets are set by uncounted numbers of local fishermen in tropical waters around the world. Other fisheries that accidentally take turtles include dredges, trawls, pound nets, pot fisheries, and hand lines. Learn more about longline fisheries…

How do man made structures affect sea turtles?

These man-made structures threaten sea turtles nesting habitat by interrupt the natural nesting process through a reduction of nesting habitat and displacement of turtles to less optimal nes ting areas. Florida’s beaches, for example, host approximately 90% of all the sea turtle nesting in the U.S. But sadly, over 40% of Florida’s beaches are classified as critically eroding due to changes in the natural landscape of these beaches. Learn more…

How do turtles get plastic?

It washes out from our beaches and streets. It travels through storm drains into streams and rivers. It flies away from landfills into our seas. As a result, thousands of sea turtles accidentally swallow these plastics, mistaking them for food. Leatherbacks especially, cannot distinguish between floating jellyfish – a main component of their diet – and floating plastic bags. Most of the debris is recognizable: plastic bags, balloons, bottles, degraded buoys, plastic packaging, and food wrappers. Some plastics aren’t so easy to see, so small, in fact, that it is invisible to the naked eye. If sea turtles ingest these particles, they can become sick or even starve. Turtles are affected to an unknown, but potentially significant degree, by entanglement in persistent marine debris, including discarded or lost fishing gear including steel and monofilament line, synthetic and natural rope, plastic onion sacks and discarded plastic netting materials. Monofilament line appears to be the principal source of entanglement for sea turtles in US waters. Learn more…

What are the impacts of human activity on the beach?

Human use of nesting beaches can result in negative impacts to nesting turtles, incubating egg clutches and hatchlings . The most serious threat caused by increased human presence on the beach is the disturbance to nesting females. Night-time human activity can prevent sea turtles from emerging on the beach or even cause females to stop nesting and return to the ocean.

Why are hawksbill turtles endangered?

Hawksbill sea turtles, recognized for their beautiful gold and brown shells, have been hunted for centuries to create jewelry and other luxury items. As a result, these turtles are now listed as critically endangered. Scientists estimate that hawksbill populations have declined by 90 percent during the past 100 years. While illegal trade is the primary cause of this decline, the demand for shells continues today on the black market. The lack of information about sea turtles leads many tourists to unwittingly support the international trade in these endangered species. Buying, selling or importing any sea any sea turtle products in the U.S., as in many countries around the world, is strictly prohibited by law. Learn more…

Why are sea turtles dangerous?

Breeding season is in particular a dangerous time for sea turtles due to the pollution of beach nesting sites. Contamination of their diet can lead to disruption of digestion as well as physical injury of the sea turtles' digestive tracts. The nesting of female sea turtles is often deterred due to the potential of oily effluence.

Why are sea turtles at risk?

Sea turtles existing in the exact areas where oil spills occur are not the only ones at risk due to the strong and far reaching ocean currents which can move pollution to great distances from its derivation. Breeding season is in particular a dangerous time for sea turtles due to the pollution of beach nesting sites.

How does artificial light affect sea turtles?

One of the greatest threats to the survival of hatchlings is artificial lighting. When a sea turtle hatches, its evolutionary instincts push it to move towards the brightest light in view, which naturally would be the sun or the moon, leading them toward the ocean horizon and into their new ecosystem. However, due to the continual expansion of cities, construction of condos and hotels on coasts everywhere has grown exponentially. With the invention of the light bulb and therefore artificial light, the sea turtle's natural source of guiding light has been replaced and is no longer the only or the brightest thing of light. With virtually every coast in Mexico now constantly lit with buildings, the hatchlings become easily confused and turned around, few of them making successful treks to the ocean. Studies support artificial light as the leading cause for hatchling disorientation, showing that in 1999, 51% of the nests studied showed signs of confusion with one-fourth of all the hatchlings headed in the wrong direction. As artificial lighting has been shown to be significantly harmful to the offspring of sea turtles, there have been several large-scale conservation efforts by Marine Life programs and conservation groups like that continue to educate the public on turtle conservation. Communities situated on or near a beach have been warned of the effects excessive lighting has on sea turtles and there has been substantial attempts to darken beaches and replace harmful artificial lighting with turtle-safe lights. Some entire communities have adopted official sea turtle protection regulations, such as Florida's “Lights-out” policy.

How many species of sea turtles are endangered?

Threats to sea turtles are numerous and have caused many sea turtle species to be endangered. Of the seven extant species of sea turtles, six in the family Cheloniidae and one in the family Dermochelyidae, all are listed on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. The list classifies six species of sea turtle as "threatened", two of them as "critically endangered", one as "endangered" and three as "vulnerable". The flatback sea turtle is classified as "data deficient" which means that there is insufficient information available for a proper assessment of conservation status. Although sea turtles usually lay around one hundred eggs at a time, on average only one of the eggs from the nest will survive to adulthood. While many of the things that endanger these hatchlings are natural, such as predators including sharks, raccoons, foxes, and seagulls, many new threats to the sea turtle species are anthropogenic.

Why do sea turtles need wire mesh?

Ferrous metal wire mesh screens are commonly used to protect sea turtle nests from predators' excavating and devouring the eggs and hatchlings . A new concern is that nestlings' delicate magnetic sense may not develop normally in the presence of the magnetic field interference from these steel mesh cages.

How many eggs do sea turtles lay?

Although sea turtles usually lay around one hundred eggs at a time, on average only one of the eggs from the nest will survive to adulthood. While many of the things that endanger these hatchlings are natural, such as predators including sharks, raccoons, foxes, and seagulls, many new threats to the sea turtle species are anthropogenic.

What happens if a turtle eats a plastic bag?

Discarded plastic bags floating in the ocean resemble jellyfish, a common food of sea turtles. If a turtle eats a plastic foil, it tends to clog the turtle's digestive system and results in the animal dying.

What are the threats to sea turtles?

Below are 15 Threats to Sea Turtles and what we can do to help them survive. 1. Illegal Sea Turtle Shell Trade. Sea turtles have very attractive shells that are worth much money.

Why are sea turtles extinction?

After reaching adulthood, sea turtles are relatively immune to predation. However, the occasional shark attack is undeniable. These natural threats are not the number one reason sea turtle populations have dropped to extinction. The predation is part of the natural process that keeps the balance in the ecosystem.

Why do people hunt Hawksbill sea turtles?

For centuries, people hunt Hawksbill sea turtles for their beautiful gold and brown shells to create jewelry and other luxury items. These turtles are especially threatened in the Indian and Pacific oceans and along the Caribbean Coast.

How do oil spills affect sea turtles?

Oil spills from exploration for and transportation of oil and gas pose substantial risks to marine turtles and their habitats. The oil can get in their eyes, on their skin, and in their lungs when they come to the surface to breathe. Among the other marine animals who face the same threat, the sea turtles are more vulnerable to chemical exposure that happens indirectly through the food they eat. The important ways to solve the oil spills is by reducing oil consumption and prefer public transportation or driving energy-efficient vehicles, support renewable energy initiatives, following local codes enforcing fertilizer bans near waterways and buying organically produced food and products.

Why do sea turtles drown?

When the sea turtles are caught underwater in nets or on lines, they drown if they can’t reach the surface for air.

Why are the oceans acidic?

The oceans are slowly becoming more acidic as the increasing quantities of carbon dioxide (CO₂) ends up to the Earth’s atmosphere. The rise in acidity means that many species will struggle to build and maintain their skeletons or shells. A far more sinister effect is that this acidity can interfere with the growth or reproduction of all ocean creatures. This causes sea turtles feed on the unhealthy food from the unhealthy ocean. We can cut the emissions by supporting investment in alternative energy sources such as wind power and convert the coal-fired power plants to natural gas, which releases half the carbon dioxide per kilowatt generated.

How can we help the ocean turtles?

The public can help in this issue by reducing, reusing and recycling plastics, using reusable cloth bags instead of plastic bags when shopping, making sure to properly secure your garbage to prevent any fly-away plastics . It’s not necessary to release balloons into the air. They travel far and will end up in our oceans being consumed by sea turtles since they mistake them for food.

Why are sea turtles so hard to live?

Sea turtles naturally have a tough start to life but, regardless, they have still managed to thrive for millions of years. So that begs the question: why are so many populations now struggling? Well, unfortunately, that is largely because of us. Whether sea turtles are directly caught by poachers or fishers, whether their nesting beaches are destroyed, or whether they suffer from ingestion of toxic chemicals, humans undoubtedly pose a grave threat to sea turtle populations all around the world.

Why do sea turtles drown?

Sea turtles can become extremely stressed when trapped in a fishing net and therefore will need to breathe more frequently. If they are stuck in the net itself, or if the net is submerged, they may be unable to reach the surface to breathe, often resulting in drowning . As well as this, the sheer weight of a catch can suffocate the turtle before the net is even retrieved from the water.

How many sea turtles survive?

It is estimated that only 1 in 1,000 of sea turtles survive from egg to adulthood.

What are the predators that prey on turtles?

Turtle eggs and hatchlings, on the other hand, are at great risk from natural predators. On the beach and on the way to the water, crabs, birds, and mammals prey on the young turtles and eggs. Once they are in the water, hatchlings and juveniles fall victim to many species of fish.

How many sea turtles eat plastic?

It is estimated that 52% of all sea turtles in the world have ingested plastic, though this is likely much higher in certain regions. With so much plastic in our oceans, the likelihood of ingesting plastic is ever increasing! Sea turtles were among the first marine species documented to be ingesting plastic, and this has been recorded in every region they live and in all seven species.

Why do sea turtles rely on currents?

Young turtles usually rely on oceanic currents to feed because they concentrate seaweed; however, oceanic gyres also concentrate garbage and pollutants, such as oil and tar balls, which young sea turtles and other animals mistake for food.

How do sea turtles navigate?

Sea turtles normally navigate towards the sea by the reflection of the moon on the water: Artificial lighting can instead lead them inland to be killed on roads or by predators, or to die of dehydration and exhaustion.

What are the effects of sea turtles on the environment?

Thousands of chemicals contaminate the marine environment, many of which accumulate in the tissues of sea turtles, affecting their locomotion, brain functioning and reproductive success. Sea turtles also consume plastics and marine debris which are harmful to their digestive systems.

What are the causes of sea turtle deaths?

Solid waste, chemicals and pollutants from human activities enter the ocean , causing injury, illness and even death to sea turtles. The pollution sources range from wastewater discharge released by cruise liners to fishing nets that are lost by fishermen to fertilizer runoff that comes down rivers from farms.

Why are sea turtles drowning?

Sea turtles are prone to drowning when they are caught in trawl nets and are crushed or are unable to escape to the surface to breathe. Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) were designed to protect sea turtles and are required in shrimp trawls in US but not in EU. A TED is a grid of bars in the neck of the net with an opening, reminiscent of an escape hatch. The bars are spaced far enough apart to allow shrimp and fish to pass through to the tail of the net while allowing large species, such as sea turtles, to escape from the net through the opening.

How does the sex of sea turtles affect the hatchlings?

The sex of sea turtle hatchlings is influenced by the temperature of the sand in which the eggs develop. Climate change can cause increased temperature. Higher temperatures cause the sand to heat up and lead to a higher proportion of female to male hatchlings.

How to disentangle turtles from fishing line?

There are ways to disentangle turtles from fishing line and to remove hooks , but the process can be time-consuming, complicated and dangerous depending on the size of the turtle and weather conditions at sea. Gillnets. Gillnets are long walls of netting hung in the water to trap and hold fish.

What happens to turtles when they emerge from their nests?

After emerging from their nests at night, newborn hatchlings find their way from nest to sea using the light of the moon.

How does climate affect sea turtles?

Climate change is altering ocean currents, which are the highways that sea turtles use for migration. With changes in ocean circulation, sea turtles may have to alter their movements and possibly shift their range and nesting timing.

What are the threats to sea turtles?

Expert members of the IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group have identified five major threats to sea turtles worldwide: fisheries bycatch, coastal development, pollution and pathogens, ...

Why are sea turtles destroyed?

Coastal Development. Every year, sea turtle habitats are destroyed because of shrinking coastlines. Wherever there is boat vessel traffic, whenever a new hotel or high-rise is built up along the shore, and wherever there is sea floor dredging and beach erosion sea turtle food supplies and nesting areas take a major hit.

How does fishing affect sea turtles?

It’s estimated that the fishing industry contributes to the death of thousands to tens of thousands of sea turtles each year. Turtles that become trapped in longlines, gill nets and trawls are thrown away as bycatch.

What are turtles traded for?

Direct take. Throughout the world, turtles are killed and traded on the global market as exotic food, oil, leather, and jewelry. Over the past 100 years, millions of hawkbill turtles alone have been killed just for the price of their shells. And even though today the global trade of luxury and craft items has reduced thanks to conservation efforts, ...

What are the threats to sea turtles?

These threats include coastal development, pollution, direct harvest, invasive species and vessel strikes. With the encroachment of hotels, parking lots and housing along nesting beaches, female turtles are forced to use suboptimal nesting habitats.

How does the environment affect sea turtles?

Thousands of man-made chemicals contaminate the marine environment, many of which accumulate in the tissues of sea turtles , affecting their locomotion, brain functioning and reproductive success.

What is the impact of marine trash on turtles?

Marine trash poses an entanglement and ingestion hazard to turtles, threatening their ability to forage, grow and, ultimately, survive. A study conducted on young loggerhead turtles found that 15 percent of the turtles had ingested large amounts of plastics that blocked their stomach from functioning. Direct Harvest.

Why do sea turtles have tumors?

Scientists believe that there may be a link between exposure to agricultural pollutants and the spread and prevalence of fibropapillomatosis, a disease in sea turtles that causes tumors to grow on the eyes, intestinal tracts, lungs, mouth, heart and other organs.

What are the most common injuries to turtles?

Injuries from boat propellers include amputated flippers, fractured shells, brain injuries and broken bones.

What are the effects of human activities on sea turtles?

Solid waste, chemicals and pollutants from human activities enter the ocean, causing injury, illness and even death to sea turtles.

What is an invasive species?

Invasive species are non-native species of plants, animals or insects that have been introduced into an area where they are not found naturally. They can wreak havoc on native species by competing them for space and food or by acting as predators.

What are the threats to sea turtles?from seeturtles.org

6 top threats to sea turtles 1 Entanglement in fishing gear: Turtles get caught on long-lines, in shrimp nets, and get injured with bomb fishing. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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.

How do turtles get fibropapillomatosis?from en.wikipedia.org

A disease known as fibropapillomatosis manifests itself in turtles through external tumors. These tumors often grow to be so large that they hinder a sea turtle's ability to see, eat, and swim, therefore rendering the sea turtle unable to survive. Inexplicably, the majority of the cases of fibropapillomatosis have been diagnosed in the green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas) while none have been in the leatherback sea turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea ). Cases of this disease have been found in all major oceans. Although the causes of this disease are not clear, many believe the source to be viral. These tumors are either smooth or contain pointed projections and they are red, pink, grey, black, or purple in color. These tumors are usually located anywhere on the soft skin tissue of the sea turtle, either the neck, eyes, or bottom of the flippers and range in size anywhere from a pea to a grapefruit.

Why do sea turtles need wire mesh?from en.wikipedia.org

Ferrous metal wire mesh screens are commonly used to protect sea turtle nests from predators' excavating and devouring the eggs and hatchlings . A new concern is that nestlings' delicate magnetic sense may not develop normally in the presence of the magnetic field interference from these steel mesh cages.

How does pollution affect sea turtles?from conserveturtles.org

Marine pollution is both directly harmful to sea turtles as well as indirectly, through the deterioration of their natural habitats. Some of the most dangerous ocean pollutants include toxic metals, PCBs, fertilizers, untreated waste, chemicals, and a variety of petroleum products. Oil spills are particularly dangerous to sea turtles. Although oil does not tend to stick to them as it does to other marine life, sea turtles are still at risk when they surface for air, where oil can get in their eyes, skin, and lungs which can lead to significant health problems. Even if they are not directly in contact with marine pollution, sea turtles can still ingest harmful chemicals through the food they eat. Oil is also a cause for the death of seagrass, which is a large staple in the diet of the green turtle. The diets of the hawksbill sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, and Kemp's ridley sea turtle species have also been affected by the oil's role in the reduction of certain sponges and invertebrates. Extended exposure has been found to deteriorate the health of a sea turtle in general, making it more weak and vulnerable to a variety of other threats. According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy, formerly known as the Caribbean Conservation Program, the migration habits of sea turtles increase their exposure to marine pollution at each of the stages of their lives including eggs, hatchlings, juveniles, sub adults, or nesting adults. A 1994 study off of Florida's Atlantic coast, 63% of hatchlings surveyed had been found to have ingested tar. Loggerheads in particular have been shown to have the most problems with tarball ingestion, leading to esophageal swelling that can dislocate the intestines and liver leading to serious buoyancy issues as well as excessive swelling. Many regions heavily associated with oil, either exploration, transportation, or processing, are also significant sea turtle environments, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, and particularly the coasts of Texas and Florida. Sea turtles existing in the exact areas where oil spills occur are not the only ones at risk due to the strong and far reaching ocean currents which can move pollution to great distances from its derivation. Breeding season is in particular a dangerous time for sea turtles due to the pollution of beach nesting sites. Contamination of their diet can lead to disruption of digestion as well as physical injury of the sea turtles' digestive tracts. The nesting of female sea turtles is often deterred due to the potential of oily effluence. If the female does lay eggs, the development of the eggs is still at risk due to either oil in the sand or contamination from the mother turtle that was oiled while nesting. If the eggs in the nest have contact with oil while in the last half of their incubation phase, the rate of hatchling survival sharply decreases and those that do survive have a greater chance of physical deformities.

What animals are caught in a trawl?from conserveturtles.org

Small animals such as shrimp pass through the bars and are caught in the bag end of the trawl. When larger animals, such as marine turtles and sharks are captured in the trawl they strike the grid bars and are ejected through the opening. Today, all U.S. shrimpers are required to put TEDs in their trawl nets.

What are the predators that sea turtles face?from conserveturtles.org

In nature, sea turtles face a host of life and death obstacles to their survival. Predators such as raccoons, crabs and ants raid eggs and hatchlings still in the nest. Once they emerge, hatchlings make bite-sized meals for birds, crabs and a host of predators in the ocean. After reaching adulthood, sea turtles are relatively ...

How many sea turtles have died from fishing?from en.wikipedia.org

According to an article in AAAS & Science, over 8 million sea turtles have died over the past twenty years due to injuries caused by being accidentally caught by fishing boats. Fisheries often use large-scale nets and hook systems that are indiscriminate and catch whatever comes along, be it sea turtle, dolphin, or even shark. What is known as " bycatch " is a large contributor to sea turtle deaths, as seen in Baja California. Longline, trawl, and gillnet fishing are three types of fishing with the most sea turtle accidents. Deaths occur often because of drowning, where the sea turtle was ensnared and could not come up for air. Another dangerous aspect of fishing that is common is when sea turtles inadvertently swallow sharp hooks, which can get stuck within the soft tissue of the throat and stomach, or damage vital organs and intestines.

Overview

Oil spills and marine pollution

Artificial lighting

Magnetic interference

Ocean plastic

Tourism

Boats

Fishing