The Crisis of the Sea Turtles Species

By: Keeley McIntyre      Feb 15, 2018

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One of the top animals on the endangered species list is the sea turtle. Nearly all species of sea turtles are endangered and this scarce breed is gradually facing extinction. Sea turtles are hunted for their eggs, meat, skin and shells, poaching, and over-exploitation. Whilst suffering from being captured in fishing gear and waste. Sea turtles are becoming a dying breed and humans are the reason. 

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Climate change is affecting sea turtles immensely, by impacting their nesting sites which stops turtles from reproducing. Climate change also alters sand temperatures which impacts the sex of hatchlings. Warmer sea temperatures negatively impact their food resources and essentially all marine animals. Arguably global warming was at the midst of 2017, killing the Great Barrier Reef and other major reefs which is one of sea turtles main food resources.

 

Humans have been the biggest threat to sea turtles and all endangered species, and especially good ol’ America. May 30, 2017 countries met up around the world for the Paris Climate Agreement. Every country agreed and took a step further towards renewable energy, except the U.S. Predictably President Trump withdrew the U.S

from the agreement in favor of the fossil favor

industry. Allowing his political view to impact his

decision making, and this one decision alone will

affect planet earth for centuries.

 

Despite the protection laws against poaching of sea

turtles around the world, the threat of illegal

hunting still stands. The illegal trading of eggs

and hunting for meat is the biggest impact on the

species. Sea turtle meat is a delicacy in some

countries so they are illegally poached for their meat. Their shells and skins are used for jewelry, sunglasses, trinkets, instruments, and decorations. Although protection laws forbid the hunting of sea turtles these laws are not enforced and lack of public awareness affects the effectiveness of these regulations.

 

Sea turtles are suffering from our mistakes; and some of these mistakes are inevitably irreversible. As we move from 2017 into 2018 the human race needs to become more aware of our negative footprint on the planet. Humans have almost completely destroyed the only home we know along with species like the ancient sea turtle. We cannot continue to ignore dying breeds that we have killed, we have to act soon before it is too late.