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EspañolThe sea turtle is one of North America’s most treasured species. People often pay huge amounts on excursions to witness these creatures in their natural habitat, swimming among coral reefs in the middle of stark blue seas.
There are currently seven sea or marine turtle species in existence: Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Leatherback, Olive ridley, Green, Flatback, and Kemp’s ridley. Most of them can live up to 100 years.
However, it is estimated that only one in 1,000 sea turtles survive to see adulthood and mate to expand their species. There are many reasons for their decline in survival—some natural and some man-made. This is why saving sea turtles is a critical need all over the world.
Fortunately, Paso Pacifico is one of the biggest proponents for conservation on the Pacific Coast. Read on for all you need to know about sea turtles and how you can help them.
Sea Turtles: A Marine Maricle
Sea turtles can be found all around the world. These majestic creatures can grow as large as 1,500 pounds and up to 63 inches. Their diet predominantly consists of jellyfish, seaweed, squid, barnacles, and sponges; however, green turtles only consume sea grass and algae.
Sea turtles swim thousands of miles throughout their lifetimes, visiting different oceans and coral reefs as they explore. They mainly do so to forage for food and find beaches that will make for safe nests to lay their eggs.
Today, almost all seven species of sea turtles are classified as endangered. For many years, these marine animals have been exploited for their eggs, meat, skin, and shells. Climate change has also contributed to disruptions in their nesting habits, causing this beloved species to dwindle to alarming numbers.
Why Are Sea Turtles Endangered?
Sea turtles are integral to marine ecology, as they feed on jellyfish and protect the coral reefs. For example, leatherback turtles control populations of jellyfish and various fish stocks. Adult hawksbill sea turtles can eat up to 1,200 pounds of sponges a year, thus maintaining balance in the ecosystem.
Sea turtle conservationists in El Salvador and all over the world have been working diligently to educate people about this issue and save these precious animals. Here are some reasons for the significant decline in their numbers:
Feeding
In many cultures and regions, turtle meat and eggs are a significant source of protein. Even if hunting has been prohibited in some areas, illegal practices like poaching eggs and selling them are still very common.
Local governments and sea turtle conservation centers are trying to spread awareness about their depletion in numbers and the repercussions of overconsuming turtle eggs and meat.
Poaching
Studies estimate that in the last three decades, more than 1 million sea turtles have been poached for their skin and shells. Their skin is used for leather products, while turtle shells are polished to create jewelry, combs, and various decorative accessories.
Fishing
Fishermen are venturing further into the ocean to keep up with consumer demand and get a decent catch. Sea turtles accidentally get caught in their nets, leading to severe injuries and even death.
Survival of the Fittest
Sea turtles lay eggs near the shore, bury them in sand, and then swim away, never to see their hatchlings again. The life of a baby sea turtle begins without its mother, and its first few hours of survival ultimately depend on its strength and resilience.
Each year, thousands of freshly hatched baby turtles must fend for themselves, leaving only the fittest—sadly an extremely small number—to crawl into the ocean and thrive in its vastness.
Climate Change
Millions of coral reefs have been destroyed or are under threat due to climate change. According to the WWF, 50% of the world’s shallow coral reefs have been lost, and the rest could disappear by 2050.
Increasing sea levels have led to more storms, leading to lower survival rates for coral reefs.
The temperature of the sand determines the sex of sea turtle hatchlings. Higher temperatures produce more females, while lower temperatures produce males. Climate change has caused temperatures to rise, creating a disparity in sex ratios that has led to population issues.
Pollution
It has been estimated that a sea turtle has a 22% chance of dying from consuming just one piece of plastic. Sadly, about 1,000 sea turtles die each year because of the proliferation of plastic waste in the ocean and on miles of shorelines.
Furthermore, polluted shores block the path of sea turtle hatchlings trying to crawl into the ocean.
Conservation Goals for Sea Turtle Populations
Sea turtle conservation in El Salvador has faced many hurdles, mainly due to poachers fighting against local authorities and using lesser-known routes to smuggle poached eggs.
Paso Pacífico has a unique and innovative approach toward conservation. Their mission is to protect biodiversity by collaborating with local communities, landowners, and partner organizations to restore and protect habitats.
One of its biggest projects has been the development of the InvestEGGator, a GPS-GSM tracking device that looks like real sea turtle eggs. These indistinguishable objects are planted into real sea turtle nests, so when poachers smuggle the eggs, the InvestEGGators can chart real-time maps of their routes. Successfully identifying these routes will significantly reduce turtle egg trafficking domestically and even internationally.
The ultimate goal is to employ about 50 award-winning InvestEGGators across Central America to take down smugglers and save as many sea turtles as possible.
How Can We Help the Sea Turtles?
Here are some ways you can contribute toward the conservation of sea turtles:
Avoid Overconsumption of Plastic
Avoiding single-use plastic items like straws, cups, water bottles, bags, and other containers can significantly reduce waste in the long run.
Participate in Beach-Cleaning Drives
Many local conservation bodies regularly organize beach cleaning drives. Cleaning up after yourself and others can help the marine environment in general, including sea turtles. More hatchlings can find their way to the ocean and reduce their chances of consuming plastic.
Learn About Sea Turtle Nesting Areas
Studying where sea turtles nest can also help people take more responsibility for hatchlings’ survival. Initiatives like cleaning up the beach, quarantining nesting areas during the season, and prohibiting flashlights at night can aid conservation.
Donate Toward Sea Turtle Conservation
Consider donating to organizations that work toward the conservation of sea turtles. Your donations provide them with much-needed resources to save sea turtles in more ways than you can imagine. In Paso Pacifico we have been working for years helping different conservation centers in El Salvador.
Conclusion
Sea turtles are beautiful, important animals that need help to keep their species alive. Despite stringent rules and regulations in place for conservation, sea turtles are still on the brink of extinction. Places like Australia, the Caribbean, and Central and South America still see significant poaching for eggs and turtles, tipping the scales in the wrong direction.
Those who stand by the cause must educate themselves about sea turtle conservation in El Salvador and the rest of the world. Supporting organizations like Paso Pacifico will go a long way in conserving marine ecology and saving its many creatures.