We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Conservation

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Sea Turtle Conservation?

By Lee Johnson
Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 10,026
Share

Sea turtle conservation is the process of looking after sea turtles and protecting their natural habitats. Out of the seven species of sea turtles found in the oceans, six of them are classed as endangered or threatened, meaning that the populations are declining to the point of extinction. The purpose of sea turtle conservation is to prevent the sea turtles from dying out, and thus also protect their ecosystems. Sea turtles, for example, graze sea beds and make them more productive in terms of coral growth. Conservation groups aim to introduce legislation preventing the poaching or hunting of sea turtles and to create protected areas.

The main goal of sea turtle conservation is to prevent the seven different species of sea turtle from becoming extinct. This is done through many different methods, including legislation and international agreements. Sea turtle conservationists have helped to include sea turtles in national laws, such as the United States’ Endangered Species Act, which outlaws any killing, harassment, or harm of sea turtles and their eggs. International agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species also help to prohibit the worldwide selling and buying of endangered species.

Other goals of sea turtle conservation can be helped along by members of conservation groups. One particularly important task is to educate the public on the threats to sea turtles and what effects their extinction would have on us as humans. Conservationists also fight to prevent people from harming the turtles by establishing refuges. Groups also focus on conducting research into sea turtles and their populations in order to identify where the problems are greatest.

The main factors that sea turtle conservation groups identify as causing problems for sea turtles are fishing, hunting, coastal development, climate change, and pollution. Some fishing methods, such as trawling, catch sea turtles in nets intended to catch other fish. People also hunt sea turtles for their shells and to eat them. Development on the coastlines can affect sea turtles’ natural habitat — damage of the habitat also damages the species. Chemicals in the water affect the sea turtles’ immune systems and make them more prone to illness.

Many people interested in sea turtle conservation focus on teaching the public the ways in which sea turtles help the ecosystem. One issue affecting the oceans is a rise in the population of jellyfish, which affects fisheries and recreational activities throughout the ocean. Sea turtles eat jellyfish, helping to curb their numbers. In addition, sea turtles graze the sea bed and make the land more productive. This means more coral, which is a vital part of the ocean’s ecosystem.

Share
All Things Nature is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.allthingsnature.org/what-is-sea-turtle-conservation.htm
Copy this link
All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.