Loggerhead sea turtles return to natal beaches to nest, facing welfare pressures from beach development, artificial lighting, and plastic pollution.
Artificial beach lighting causes hatchling disorientation with thousands moving inland toward lights rather than seaward, dying from exhaustion, dehydration, or traffic. Beach vehicle use crushes eggs and hatchlings. Plastic debris ingestion causes gut impaction and death. Beach management including light management and vehicle exclusion provides significant welfare protection.