Marine turtles face threats throughout their life cycle — from nest site disturbance and artificial lighting to bycatch and plastic ingestion — that collectively threaten all seven species.
Marine turtle welfare threats span their entire 80+ year lifespan. Nest disturbance threatens the next generation before it begins. Artificial lighting causes hatchlings to crawl inland rather than seaward, dying of dehydration and predation. Bycatch in fishing gear causes acute drowning deaths. Plastic ingestion fills digestive systems with indigestible material. Climate change alters sex ratios threatening population viability. Each threat produces individual welfare harm; together they threaten the survival of ancient animals that have survived 100 million years of evolution. Human-caused threats emerged within decades; reversing them requires determined action across multiple sectors.