All seven sea turtle species face significant threats from fishing bycatch, plastic ingestion, nesting beach degradation, and climate change affecting sex ratios.
Sea turtles face welfare impacts across their entire life cycle — from hatchlings disoriented by beach lighting, to juveniles and adults entangled in fishing gear or slowly dying from plastic ingestion. Entangled turtles that reach rehabilitation centers often arrive with severe injuries requiring amputations. The slow death from plastic blockage is particularly distressing. Climate-driven nest temperature increases creating all-female populations represent a long-term existential threat. Individual welfare and population viability are both at stake, requiring action on multiple fronts simultaneously.