Fibropapillomatosis, a debilitating tumour disease, affects green sea turtles across the tropics and is strongly linked to coastal water pollution and eutrophication.
Sea turtles with fibropapillomatosis experience a progressive deterioration in their ability to function. Tumours on eyelids impair vision, preventing effective foraging. Tumours on flippers reduce swimming efficiency. Internal tumours affect organ function. Severely affected turtles become emaciated, buoyant, and vulnerable to boat strike. The disease pathway connects directly to human activities: nutrient pollution from coastal development, agriculture, and wastewater drives algal blooms that concentrate the arginine that promotes tumour growth. Reducing coastal water pollution is both a turtle welfare intervention and a broader ecological health measure.