Conserving the sea turtles

The seven species of sea turtle that can currently be found in the world’s oceans evolved from tortoises to survive comfortably in the ocean. In doing so they have developed a more streamlined shape over their land based counterparts and strong flippers instead of legs as well as developing large lungs allowing them to stay underwater for long periods of time.



Born on land, only the females will return to lay their eggs by hauling themselves out of the water and up the beach where they dig a nest and lay a clutch of roughly 50-200 eggs. They then make their way back to the water and leave their eggs to hatch. After approximately two months the hatchlings break out of their eggs and make their way to the sea. From then on they are on their own, only coming together to mate after they have matured.



Unfortunately, turtles and their eggs are sought after items, and there has been a rising trend for turtle based cuisine away from the coasts. This means that people are hunting far more than before to meet the growing demands from the urban population. One of the biggest threats to the turtle population is trawler nets as turtles which get caught in them cannot return to the surface to breathe and subsequently die, only to be thrown away as bycatch when the nets are hauled in. Another threat is humans and scavengers on the nesting beaches, where eggs are broken or eaten and the number of hatchlings making it to the water is severely diminished.



But the tide is turning for turtles and their plight has been recognised and brought to the attention of governments around the world, many of whom are now working in harmony to bring the population of turtles back into balance. Turtle fatalities as a result of trawler nets can be avoided by installing devices called T.E.Ds or Turtle Excluder Devices to nets. To conserve turtle eggs, beaches are often now routinely closed during nesting season, with fines and imprisonment notices for those caught not abiding the law. Turtles are also being tagged to better establish their habits and whereabouts and eggs are being removed from beaches that can’t be kept safe and placed in nurseries before being returned to the sea once they hatch.



For your chance to see these beautiful creatures and maybe take part in the ongoing conservation efforts, holidays to the Maldives, Mexico, South Africa to name but a few, can provide the opportunity.