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| A sea turtle gliding through the coastal oceans (National Geographic) |
They might be the some of the slowest
animals, but turtles are on the move. Unfortunately, this move is off this
planet. The long lifespan of sea turtles are no longer a force of livelihood
for turtles now that human caused extinction is cutting their species’ lives
short. Sea turtles around the globe are subject to an immense population loss
in areas where the used to be primarily located. This loss of life, if
continued, will lead to irreparable damage in subaquatic ecosystems around the
world where species will be forced to thrive without turtles. However, this
population loss CAN be recovered if we act fast. Actions are already being
taken, and so far, they have proved successful.
People
are probably pretty skeptic to the role a slow and simple animal like the sea
turtle can play in an environment. However, like all species, there are ripple
effects and implications that coincide with turtle extinction. First, turtles
play an agricultural role under the sea. The Sea Turtle Conservatory lets usknow that, “sea turtles and manatees act as grazinganimals that cut the grass short and help maintain the health of the sea grassbeds” (1). Because turtle populations are shrinking, scientists have noticed a smaller
amount of these grass beds. This will lead to a shift in underwater plant life,
which is vital to the fish that feed on those plants.
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| Turtles going to shore to lay eggs (NPR) |
Also, turtles provide nutrients in
beach areas during the egg laying process. The Sea Turtle Conservatory also
backs this up by saying, Dune vegetation is able to grow and become stronger
with the presence of nutrients from turtle eggs.” These nutrients help coastal
life thrive. Not only are these nutrients necessary, but the eggs themselves
also provide food for predators in these areas.
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| A turtle who has been brought to shore through stranding (South Carolina Dept. Natural Resources) |
There are several reasons why sea
turtle populations are being threatened around the world. Several of these
threats can be observed in sea turtle populations in Mexico. Fishermen in these
areas end up unintentionally catching sea turtles while trying to catch local
fish. This is called “stranding,” and is a major cause of decreased turtle
populations. The Center for Biological Diversity reported that in Mexico, “just last summer, sea turtle strandings reached a record high when 483loggerhead sea turtles were found dead along a single, 25-mile stretch of coast— a 600 percent increase over already-alarming average rates” (2).
Fishing economies depend on these methods, but will soon lose fish populations
with the death of turtles.
Action is being taken all over the
world to increase turtle populations where fishing has taken them. In
Mississippi, sea turtles have been taken to the Institute for Marine MammalStudies where there is a, “project to help rare sea turtles that have washedashore during strandings” (3). This particular species of turtle is the Kemp
Ridley turtle, which is described by Science World Report as, “one of the most endangered of all
turtle species.” At this institute, turtles can be raised in environments that
protect them from the fishing that is killing the rest of their species.
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| Stranding Statistics of 2010 (National Wildlife Federation) |
There
are many preservation efforts being taken, and they seem to be more successful
as we learn more about turtles. Separate areas of preservation have been set
aside I the wild where fishing is not allowed. Skepticism surrounded these types
of preservation efforts until recently, studies showed that turtles were using
and thriving in these areas. Kristen Hart, the lead author of the study, went
on record saying, “this study not only shows managers that these designated
protected areas are already being used by turtles, but provides insight into
the types of habitats they use most" (4). Although this is true, much more initiative must be
taken to regulate lands where turtles are preserved.
Most importantly, governmental action is being taken against these
practices. The United States is one of a handful of nations whose governments
have deemed Mexico unable to prevent the extinction of turtles by themselves.
By this conclusion, they have drafted an international agreement called the
Pelly Amendment. The Center for Biological Diversity describes this status of
the agreement in today’s context. The report says, “under this treaty, Mexico, the United States and other nations have
committed to reduce bycatch to “greatest extent practicable,” yet loggerhead
bycatch remains substantially unregulated in Mexico.” Fortunately, governments
have actually realized the severity of the situation. Hopefully, further action
will be taken.
(2) http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2013/loggerhead-sea-turtle-04-30-2013.html
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