Threats to marine turtles

Loggerhead hatchlings Photo: D. Fisk

Populations of long-lived, slow breeding species such as marine turtles are sensitive to changes in survivorship. Even a small reduction in the survivorship of adult turtles can bring about a chronic decline of the population.

Threats to turtles include:

• Destruction of feeding grounds such as seagrass beds;
• Degradation of breeding sites;
• Artificial lights (street and house lighting) near breeding beaches that disorientate hatchlings;
• Predation on hatchlings and eggs by foxes, pigs, goanna;
• Entanglement in fishing gear, such as trawl nets;
• Direct hits by boats;
• Ingestion of plastic bags, thought by turtles to be jellyfish;
• Over harvesting of turtles and eggs, especially affecting green and hawksbill populations.