Leatherback Sea Turtle Welfare and Ocean Threats

Leatherback sea turtles are the largest living reptile and one of the most ancient creatures on Earth, facing threats from plastic ingestion, bycatch and nesting beach loss.

Key Facts

Leatherbacks have existed largely unchanged for over 100 million years; they can weigh up to 900 kg and dive to over 1,000 metres
Plastic bags closely resemble jellyfish — the primary leatherback prey — causing fatal intestinal blockages in an estimated 35% of found dead leatherbacks
Pelagic longline fisheries kill an estimated 50,000 sea turtles annually as bycatch — circle hooks and fish bait rather than squid reduce turtle catch rates by 90%
Female leatherbacks return to the exact beach where they hatched to nest — artificial lighting on nesting beaches causes disorientation that leads hatchlings away from the sea
Pacific leatherback populations have declined over 95% since the 1980s; Atlantic populations are more stable but still threatened
Satellite tracking shows leatherbacks travel up to 20,000 km between feeding grounds in cold North Atlantic waters and tropical nesting beaches

Welfare Considerations

Leatherback welfare threats span their entire migration route and life history. Plastic ingestion causes protracted suffering as digestive blockages develop. Longline bycatch causes drowning in animals that must surface to breathe. Beach lighting causes fatal disorientation in hatchlings. Nesting females face harassment and poaching at some sites. Each threat is tractable: circle hooks reduce bycatch, lighting ordinances protect hatchlings, plastic reduction prevents ingestion, and beach protection prevents poaching. Supporting organisations working on each of these specific interventions directly reduces individual leatherback suffering at meaningful scale.

What You Can Do

Reduce single-use plastic consumption to decrease ocean plastic that leatherbacks mistake for jellyfish
Support fishing industry adoption of circle hooks in longline fisheries operating in leatherback habitat
Advocate for beach lighting ordinances in coastal communities with leatherback nesting activity
Donate to sea turtle conservation organisations with specific leatherback bycatch and nesting beach programmes
Learn about leatherback migration routes and share information about the specific threats they face along those routes