Sea Turtle Conservation and Welfare

Sea turtles face multiple human-caused threats — from bycatch to plastic pollution to coastal development.

Key Facts

Six of seven sea turtle species are listed as threatened or endangered
Bycatch in shrimp trawls and longlines kills tens of thousands of sea turtles annually
Plastic ingestion is detected in over half of sea turtles examined
Artificial lights disrupt sea turtle nesting by disorienting hatchlings

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles are ancient animals that have survived for 100 million years and now face an unprecedented array of human-caused threats. Entanglement in fishing gear causes drowning. Plastic ingestion blocks digestive systems. Light pollution disorients nesting females and hatchlings. Coastal development destroys nesting beaches. Climate change is altering beach temperatures, affecting hatchling sex ratios. Each of these threats causes suffering to individual animals while also threatening species survival. Conservation and welfare interests align perfectly in addressing them.

What You Can Do

Support mandatory TEDs (turtle excluder devices) in shrimp trawls
Reduce plastic waste to lower ocean plastic pollution
Turn off or shield coastal lights during sea turtle nesting season
Support sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation organizations