Leatherback Sea Turtle Welfare and Ocean Threats

Leatherback sea turtles are the largest living turtles and among the most endangered. Bycatch, plastic ingestion, and beach development threaten populations that have survived for millions of years.

Key Facts

Leatherbacks are the largest sea turtles, reaching up to 2 metres in length and 900 kg
They migrate thousands of kilometres between nesting beaches and jellyfish feeding grounds
Leatherback populations in the Pacific have declined by over 90% since the 1980s
Bycatch in longline, gillnet, and trawl fisheries is the primary cause of adult mortality
Leatherbacks cannot distinguish between jellyfish and floating plastic bags, which they ingest fatally
Beach development and artificial lighting disrupts nesting behaviour and disorients hatchlings
Warming sands from climate change skew hatchling sex ratios toward females, threatening populations
Some Atlantic populations are more stable, demonstrating that conservation efforts can succeed

Welfare Considerations

Leatherback sea turtles experience significant welfare harms across their life history. Bycatch capture causes acute stress, exhaustion, and drowning when animals cannot surface. Long-line hooks cause internal injuries that may cause prolonged suffering before death. Plastic bag ingestion blocks digestive tracts causing starvation — a slow and painful death. Hatchlings disoriented by coastal lighting wander inland rather than toward the sea, dying of dehydration and predation. Nesting females disturbed by beach activity abort nest construction or return to sea without nesting, wasting enormous energetic investment. Conservation measures including circle hooks, bycatch exclusion devices, beach lighting ordinances, and plastic reduction all reduce welfare harms to leatherbacks.

What You Can Do

Reduce single-use plastic consumption to prevent ocean plastic that turtles ingest
Support turtle-friendly fishing regulations requiring bycatch reduction devices
Advocate for dark sky lighting ordinances on sea turtle nesting beaches
Donate to sea turtle conservation and monitoring programs
If visiting turtle nesting beaches, follow all guidelines and never use artificial lights
Support international fisheries agreements that protect leatherbacks as bycatch