Marine Turtles

Threats

Six of the seven species of marine turtles are listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered, and the outlook is increasingly grim. Marine turtles have the ability to reproduce abundantly; females can lay hundreds of eggs in one nesting season. Even under natural conditions, relatively few young turtles survive their first year of life. Predators such as crabs, foxes and birds often kill the hatchlings as they make their way from the nest to the sea.

Marine turtles are also threatened by humans who harvest turtle eggs and the destruction of nesting beaches. It takes decades for young turtles to reach maturity and start to breed, and adult turtles must live to reproduce over many years for the population to thrive. Fewer and fewer turtles are living long enough to reproduce because of various threats.

All stages of a marine turtle’s life are affected by environmental conditions such as temperature--even the sex of offspring. Unusually warm temperatures caused by climate change are disrupting the normal ratios, however, resulting in a decline of male offspring. 

Warmer sea surface temperatures can also lead to the loss of important foraging grounds for marine turtles, while increasingly severe storms and sea level rise can destroy critical nesting beaches and damage nests.

WWF has helped to protect the Pacific leatherback and other marine turtles from the effects of climate change. For example, along Junquillal Beach, Costa Rica, we joined forces with the community to restore coastal vegetation so that turtle nests have proper shade. This is critically important to prevent nests from overheating and maintain proper sex ratio of offspring.

Learn more about climate impacts to other wildlife

Conservation efforts to protect turtles

Effective conservation requires protection at all stages of the life cycle. WWF is working around the world to conserve marine turtles by:

• Establishing and strengthening protected areas around nesting beaches
• Raising awareness and promoting ecotourism at marine turtle sites, so that local communities become involved in and benefit from protecting turtles and their nests
• Promoting regional and international agreements to conserve marine turtles
• Lobbying for turtle-friendly fishing practices, such as the use of turtle excluder devices in nets
• Halting the illegal trade of turtle meat and eggs, through TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network created by WWF and IUCN

Why is this species important?

Marine turtles are economically important to humans. In recent years, marine turtles have become increasingly important as an ecotourism attraction. This has led to a rise in tourism operations that provide jobs and income to seaside communities throughout the tropical and subtropical part of the world. Marine turtle watching increases people's interest in marine and coastal issues and inspires commitment to support conservation efforts.

Marine turtle species:

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  Flatback Turtle

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  Green Turtle

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  Hawksbill Turtle

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  Kemp's Ridley Turtle

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  Leatherback Turtle

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  Loggerhead Turtle

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  Olive Ridley Turtle