Marine Wildlife

Marine Wildlife: Sea Turtle Fibropapillomatosis Welfare

Fibropapillomatosis is a debilitating tumour disease affecting green sea turtles globally, linked to environmental pollution and immune function.

Key Facts

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) causes external and internal tumours in green sea turtles
Tumours on the eyes, flippers, and around the mouth impair vision, swimming, and feeding
FP prevalence is highest in polluted coastal waters, suggesting pollution-immune links
Hawaiian and Florida green turtle populations have FP prevalence exceeding 50% in some areas
Rehabilitation facilities remove tumours surgically, with moderate success rates for mild cases

Welfare Considerations

Fibropapillomatosis causes progressive welfare deterioration through tumour growth that impairs fundamental functions including vision and feeding. Turtles with severe tumour loads cannot feed adequately, leading to starvation and drowning. The disease is strongly linked to coastal pollution - reducing nutrient run-off and chemical pollution in coastal waters reduces disease prevalence and improves welfare at the population level.

What You Can Do

Support coastal water quality improvement campaigns that reduce FP risk for turtles
Report fibropapillomatosis-affected turtles to sea turtle rehabilitation centres
Support sea turtle rehabilitation centres treating FP-affected animals
Reduce fertiliser use and chemical run-off from gardens near coastal areas
Learn about FP as a pollution-linked welfare crisis for green turtles