Sea turtle nesting beaches face threats from light pollution, beach vehicles, human disturbance, and plastic debris that cause significant welfare harm to nesting females and emerging hatchlings.
Sea turtle welfare on nesting beaches encompasses a full spectrum of harms. A nesting female disturbed by lights or approaching humans may abort her nesting attempt and return to the sea with eggs unlaid — a significant physical and energetic cost after the long migration and beach emergence. Hatchlings emerging into artificial light face disorientation and predation risk as they search for the sea. Those that encounter plastic debris become entangled. Hatchlings that survive their first weeks at sea carry the physiological legacy of incubation temperature on their sex and fitness. Beach protection during nesting season is one of the most direct welfare interventions available for this threatened group.