Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit
World Sea Turtle Day falls on June 16 each year and highlights the importance of sea turtles. The Day takes place on this particular date in honor of Dr. Archie Carr, who was considered by many to be the “father of sea turtle biology” and was born in Mobile, Alabama on June 16, 1909. Dr. Archie Carr was a great biologist. His early descriptive studies of turtles set the standard of quality in the field of natural history. Later on, as he focused on sea turtles, he moved toward ecology and behavior, although his work always retained a taxonomic and evolutionary perspective. Today, we are encouraging global supporters to dive into the threats that sea turtles face. There are many other threats to sea turtles, such as encroachment of coastal development on nesting beaches, marine pollutants, accidental drowning on fishing gear, and the international turtle meat trade.
Graceful and beautiful, with streamlined bodies and flippers adapted for swimming, the seven existing species of sea turtles are among approximately 360 species of turtles and tortoises and have been navigating the world’s oceans for 200 million years. Sea turtles lay eggs in the sand and their gender is determined by the temperature: cool results in males, warm in females, and a fluctuating temperature produces a mix of both. Sea turtles can live between 50 to 100 years and some sea turtles travel more than 1,000 miles to return to their nesting ground. They nest multiple times, about two weeks apart, and lay up to 125 eggs per nest.
Temperature has a significant impact on the sea turtle sex ratio. Warmer temperatures produce more females, while cooler temperatures are found to produce more males. Human activities such as hunting for sea turtles, plastic and chemical pollution, irresponsible fishing practices, coastal development, light pollution and other issues, as well as climate change, are all contributing to the reduction in sea turtle populations. Additionally, sea turtles often fall victim to entanglement in fishing gear, resulting in injuries or death. The ingestion of plastic garbage, mistaken for food, poses a serious threat to their health. Sea turtles often confuse plastic trash for jellyfish or other prey, leading to ingestion and internal damage or blockages.
World Sea Turtle Day reminds us of our responsibility to protect and conserve these ancient mariners. By mitigating the threats they face, promoting sustainable practices, and supporting rehabilitation and release initiatives, we can contribute to preserving sea turtles and their precious habitats.
The point of the day is to let more people know about the plight of sea turtles and to increase education and participation to help sea turtles survive, including political advocacy and community responsibility. Let us keep beaches trash free to avoid turtles mistaking it for food or getting caught in plastic loops. Single use plastic bags are often mistaken by sea turtles for their favourite food, jellyfish. Consumption can cause them to suffocate. Promoting responsible coastal development practices that preserve nesting habitats and implementing stricter regulations on fishing gear can help reduce accidental capture and entanglement. Education and outreach programs can certainly raise awareness among local communities and tourists about the importance of conservation and responsible behaviour when encountering sea turtles.
(The author is a freelance and can be reached at [email protected])
