Sea turtle nest protection programs balance conservation with welfare by minimizing disturbance to nesting females and hatchlings.
Sea turtles disturbed during nesting abort egg-laying attempts, wasting the energetic investment of migration. Artificial lighting causes hatchling disorientation toward roads rather than the sea. Nest predation by dogs and raccoons causes high hatchling mortality. Protection programs that control lighting, predators, and human disturbance substantially improve both hatchling numbers and nesting female welfare.