If you’ve ever been lucky enough to spot a sea turtle gliding through the ocean, you know just how magical these creatures are. Sea turtles play a vital role in our marine ecosystems, but they’re facing serious threats. Imagine the ocean as a giant, delicate clock—sea turtles are one of its key gears. Without them, things could quickly go awry. Let’s explore why these beloved creatures are so important and how we can all pitch in to keep them safe.
Sea turtles are native to England, and you may even come across giant leatherback turtles. Found worldwide, they are known as the ‘ocean lawnmowers’ as they eat seagrass. Their other favourite food is jellyfish, which is why it’s important never to release balloons (as 70% of them land in the ocean and get eaten as they look similar).
Sea turtles are beautiful creatures with incredible shells (so never buy anything made from tortoiseshell like combs, sunglasses or hair slides). Some species even hitch a ride on them. Two main hazards to sea turtles are plastic straws and light pollution (many turtles are going to car parks to give birth, mistaking the lights for the moon, by which they navigate).
Advanced Mooring Systems makes boat anchor alternatives to protect seagrass beds and turtles. Anglers can invest in monomaster (a small device to store fishing line that unlike conventional bins, does not encourage birds to nest and also get tangled). This photo by Jordi Chias highlights issues of ghost fishing waste, after he untangled a sea turtle trapped in fishing net.
Sea Turtles and Ecosystems
Sea turtles are ancient mariners, having cruised the Earth’s oceans for over 100 million years. They’re more than just fascinating creatures; they’re crucial to the health of our oceans. Acting almost like natural janitors, they graze on seagrass beds and coral, helping keep these vital habitats vibrant and productive.
There are seven species of sea turtles, each bringing its own charm and needs to our oceans. They range from the tiny Kemp’s ridley, preferring the Gulf of Mexico, to the giant leatherback, which roams the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Every species has its own special characteristics, like the hawksbill with its stunning shell or the green turtle known for its grazing habits.
Their grazing on seagrass helps keep these beds healthy and thriving. Healthy seagrass beds mean more carbon absorption and more robust fish populations. Not only that, but turtles also assist coral reefs by keeping them clean, further supporting biodiversity. Think of them as maintenance workers, keeping everything running smoothly.
Threats Facing Sea Turtles
As more buildings pop up along coastlines, nesting sites disappear. Pollution adds another layer of trouble, contaminating the places these turtles call home. Imagine trying to lay eggs in a spot that’s constantly under threat—it’s no easy feat.
Climate change is hitting turtles hard. Warmer sand temperatures can affect the sex of hatchlings, skewing it towards more females. Rising sea levels can wash away nesting beaches altogether. It’s as if the planet is shaking up the game while turtles are just trying to play catch-up.
Sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, a favourite snack, leading to dire consequences. Chemicals and oil spills only make this worse, turning once-safe waters into dangerous traps.
How You Can Make a Difference
This one’s easy. Swap single-use plastics for reusable options. Use cloth bags, bring your reusable water bottle everywhere, and recycle diligently. Every piece of plastic not used is one less potential hazard for sea turtles.
When you’re out in nature, tread lightly. Support eco-friendly tourism and practice responsible fishing. It’s all about leaving the environment better than you found it and ensuring future generations get to experience it too.
Participating in a beach clean-up is a fantastic way to get your hands dirty for a good cause. Organise a local event or join an existing one and see the direct impact of your efforts.
Books to Learn More about Sea Turtles
My Life with Sea Turtles is a book filled with wonder for the natural world, a captivating tale of one of the oldest living creatures on earth, alongside a female scientist’s fight to save their future.
In 2015, a team of researchers carefully removed a plastic straw from a sea turtle’s nostril, off the coast of Costa Rica. This disturbing incident (captured on video) went viral and lead to corporate straw bans around the world. In this book, the marine biologist behind the camera recounts her own life spent studying and protecting sea turtles.
From the time she was a young girl, the author was determined to become a marine biologist and study the marine world. In this book, she shares how she went from a small grey town on the edge of industry, to the lush coastline of Costa Rica, where she fell in love with the local environment and its famous residents: sea turtles.
Figgener describes patrolling the beach at night, swimming with turtles in the open ocean, watching tiny turtles emerge from sandy nests and risking her life during tropical storms. We learn of her experience as a woman in the male-dominated conservation space, where surprisingly at times she struggles to be taken seriously. Through discovering the fascinating science of sea turtles (and the threats they face today), readers will be inspired to live their own lives differently, to ensure survival of these magnificent creatures.
Christine Figgener was born in Haltern am See and grew up in Germany’s industrial Ruhr valley. After studying biology, she earned a PhD in marine biology from Texas University and has lived and worked in Costa Rica since 2007, researching sea turtles and fighting for their protection.
Yoshi Sea Turtle is the true story of a loggerhead turtle who was born in Australia then swan across an ocean filled with sharks and seahorses to only land in a fishing net. Rescued by a passing fisherman, she was rehabbed (and tagged). Then released to make a record-breaking swim across the Indian Ocean to the beach where she hatched to lay her eggs. Written by a record-breaking human swimmer, this is the tale of a sea turtle who swam the longest distance of any animal, in recorded history.
Of Time and Turtles is a book on how we can save the planet, by learning from one of the most ancient creatures. When naturalist Sy Montgomery and wildlife artist Matt Peterson arrive at Turtle Rescue League, they are greeted by hundreds of turtles, recovering from injury and illness. Endangered by cars and highways, pollution and poaches (some wounds so severe they were dismissed by vets as fatal), all these creatures are given a second chance of life, by the founder’s motto: never give up on a turtle.
Why do turtles inspire such devotion? Ancient and unhurried, these long-lived majestic creatures that go back to the times of dinosaurs sometimes live to 200 years old. Others spend months buried under cold winter water. In pursuit of answers, the authors immerse themselves in the world of protecting turtle nests, incubating eggs, rescuing sea turtles and releasing hatchlings back to their homes in the world. You’ll meet the snapping turtle Fire Chief, on his astonishing journey, as he battles against injuries incurred by a truck. This is a hopeful book on how we can learn from turtles, as the antidote to our frenzied world. Slow down – and slip into turtle time!
