Sea turtles return to the same beaches where they were born to nest, making beach protection and human management of nesting sites critical for both conservation and individual turtle welfare.
Sea turtle nesting involves significant physical exertion for females who haul themselves out of the water, dig nests, deposit eggs, and return to the sea — a process lasting 1 to 3 hours. Disturbance during nesting causes nest abandonment, wasted reproductive effort, and stress. Hatchlings face predation, disorientation from artificial light, and the exhausting journey to the water. Welfare considerations for sea turtles include minimizing disturbance at nesting sites, reducing light pollution, removing threats like beach chairs and fishing gear, and carefully managing any necessary handling during monitoring.