Kiera Jefferson
Sea turtles are vulnerable to pollution at every stage of their lives. From eggs to hatchlings to adults, they face threats from both plastic and non-plastic pollutants. While the exact number of sea turtles killed by pollution each year is unknown, it is estimated that at least 1,000 sea turtles die annually from entanglement in plastic, and thousands more from ingesting plastic and other marine debris. Sea turtles are also affected by toxic metals, petroleum products, and agricultural and industrial runoff, which can cause immediate harm or build up over time, leading to disease and death. The impact of pollution on sea turtle populations is a growing concern, and it is crucial to address this issue through conservation efforts and individual actions to reduce plastic waste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of sea turtles killed by pollution each year | It is estimated that at least 1,000 sea turtles die each year due to entanglement in plastic, with thousands more killed by commercial fishing and other forms of pollution. |
| Types of pollution | Plastic, toxic metals, petroleum products, agricultural and industrial runoff, fibropapillomas, and other marine debris. |
| Effects of pollution on sea turtles | Ingestion of plastic can cause blockages in the intestines, internal bleeding, and starvation. Entanglement in plastic can lead to injuries, drowning, and death. Pollution can also cause tumours, impaired vision, and immunosuppression. |
| Solutions | Reduce plastic waste, invest in reusable containers, promote education and beach clean-up initiatives, implement bans or taxes on plastic bags, and support conservation efforts. |
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Plastic ingestion
Sea turtles can mistake plastic for their natural food sources, such as jellyfish, or accidentally consume plastic that is present among their prey. The smell of marine plastics, resulting from the organisms that attach to them, also attracts sea turtles, increasing the likelihood of ingestion. The downward-facing spines in their throats prevent regurgitation, trapping plastic in their stomachs and causing blockages, internal bleeding, and malnutrition. This can lead to starvation as turtles neglect to seek other food sources, believing they are full.
Young sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to plastic ingestion. During their early years, they float with ocean currents, living in flotsam and feeding on other organisms that float with the currents, which may include plastic debris. Newly hatched sea turtles must navigate through plastic items and microplastics as they make their way from the nest to the sea. In some populations, more than 90% of young turtles have ingested microplastics.
The ingestion of plastic has severe consequences for sea turtles. Research suggests that ingesting just one piece of plastic increases a turtle's likelihood of dying by 22%14 plastic items in its gut, a turtle has a 50% chance of dying. Plastic ingestion can also lead to "bubble butt," where trapped gas caused by the harmful decomposition of marine debris causes turtles to float, making them vulnerable to starvation or predation.
The threat of plastic ingestion extends beyond the direct impact on individual turtles. Plastics contain a mixture of chemicals, including heavy metals and bisphenols like BPA, which have been linked to hormone-disrupting effects. This has resulted in the feminization of sea turtle populations, with 99% of sea turtle hatchlings on the Great Barrier Reef now being female.
To address this issue, individuals can reduce their consumption of single-use plastics, switch to reusable alternatives, and properly dispose of waste. Governments and organizations are also taking action, with bans and taxes on plastic bags and incentives for businesses to adopt sustainable practices.
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Entanglement in plastic
Sea turtles are affected by plastic at every stage of their lives. As hatchlings, they crawl through plastic to reach the ocean, swim through plastic waste while migrating, and then crawl through more plastic as adults.
Plastic pollution affects sea turtles in two main ways: ingestion and entanglement. Entanglement in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear or "ghost nets", can lead to injuries, hinder their ability to swim, surface for air, or feed, and can even lead to drowning and death. Young sea turtles are especially vulnerable to entanglement as they spend their early years floating with ocean currents, living among flotsam and feeding on other organisms that float with the currents.
Scientists estimate that at least 1,000 sea turtles die each year due to entanglement in plastic—that's more than one turtle every nine hours. The accumulation of plastics at key nesting beaches also puts baby turtles at high risk of entanglement, preventing them from reaching the sea.
In addition to entanglement, ingestion of plastic is also a significant threat to sea turtles. Plastic debris in the ocean, such as plastic bags, can be mistaken for jellyfish, one of their favorite foods. This causes blockages in their digestive system, leading to malnutrition, intestinal damage, and even death. Research has shown that more than half of all sea turtles have ingested plastic, and it is estimated that over one million sea turtles are killed each year by ingesting plastic and other forms of debris.
The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtles is a complex and urgent issue. While there are global efforts to address this problem, such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the legally binding plastics treaty agreed upon by 175 nations, individual actions can also make a difference. Reducing the use of single-use plastics, properly disposing of waste, and participating in beach cleanups and conservation programs can all help protect sea turtles and the fragile marine ecosystem they depend on.
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Toxic metals
While it is difficult to determine exactly how many sea turtles are killed by pollution from toxic metals each year, it is clear that toxic metals are a significant contributor to the overall issue of pollution, which poses a serious threat to sea turtles.
One of the critical ways toxic metals affect sea turtles is by concentrating in their liver and kidneys. This accumulation can have detrimental effects on the turtles' health, although the specific consequences are not explicitly stated. Additionally, toxic metals in plastics have been linked to hormone-disrupting effects, causing feminization in sea turtle populations and even infertility. This disruption in the sex ratio of sea turtles can have far-reaching impacts on their reproduction and overall population dynamics.
The impact of toxic metals on sea turtles is further exacerbated by other pollutants, such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). Despite being banned from production in the U.S. in 1979, PCBs persist in the environment and have been found in sea turtle eggs. Ingestion of these chemicals can lead to depressed immune systems, illnesses, diseases, and impaired reproduction. The combination of toxic metals and other pollutants creates a complex web of threats to the health and survival of sea turtles.
While the exact number of sea turtle deaths attributed to toxic metals each year may be elusive, it is evident that toxic metals play a significant role in the overall decline of sea turtle populations. The insidious nature of these pollutants, acting alone or in conjunction with other contaminants, underscores the urgent need to address pollution and protect these ancient mariners from the myriad threats they face in their aquatic habitats.
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Oil spills
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of America (formerly Mexico) had adverse effects on wildlife, including sea turtles. More than 300 oiled sea turtles were rescued from offshore areas, cleaned, and released back into the wild. Additionally, eggs from 275 sea turtle nests, threatened by oil, were relocated to the Atlantic coast, where 14,000 hatchlings were later released. Researchers estimate that the Deepwater Horizon spill killed 4,900–7,600 large juvenile and adult sea turtles and 56,000–166,000 small juveniles. This spill also affected the habitats of sea turtles, with oil reaching over 1,000 miles of shoreline and contaminating mangroves and seagrass beds, which provide food and habitat for sea turtles.
Another oil spill off the Brazilian coast in 2019 affected more than 3,000 km of coastline and various ecosystems, including mangroves, reefs, and seagrass beds. While the exact number of sea turtles impacted by this spill is unknown, hundreds of animals were affected, and it is believed that oil ingestion caused the death of some green turtles.
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Habitat destruction
While it is difficult to find an exact number of how many sea turtles are killed by pollution each year, it is clear that pollution is a significant threat to sea turtles.
Sea turtles are vulnerable to habitat destruction at all stages of their lives. The degradation of sea turtle habitats can occur over large areas due to pollution. Sea turtles' nesting beaches and coral reefs are vital to their survival, but they are being eroded and destroyed by climate change, coastal development, and human activity.
Coastal development, such as building hotels or high-rises along the shore, can lead to shrinking coastlines and the illumination of nesting areas, impacting sea turtles' food supplies and nesting sites. Climate change also affects sea turtles' nesting sites by altering sand temperatures, which then impacts the sex of hatchlings. Warmer oceans and extreme weather events caused by climate change can also harm coral reefs, which are vital to the survival of sea turtles and other commercially valuable species.
Human activity on nesting beaches can also reduce nesting success and harm hatchlings. For example, beach driving can harm hatchlings, and adult sea turtles may need to crawl through debris to find a place to nest, while hatchlings can get caught in the trash and entangled in plastic debris on their way to the ocean.
The fishing industry also poses a significant threat to sea turtles' habitats. Fishing gear, such as nets and lines, can entangle sea turtles and other marine animals, impacting their ability to swim and feed. "Ghost nets," or discarded fishing gear, can continue to entangle and kill sea turtles even after they are no longer in use. Additionally, sea turtles can be accidentally captured in fishing gear, leading to injuries and death.
To protect sea turtle habitats, organizations like WWF work to establish and strengthen protected areas around nesting beaches, promote ecotourism, and advocate for turtle-friendly fishing practices, such as the use of circle hooks and Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs).
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Frequently asked questions
Sea turtles are vulnerable to ocean pollution at all stages of their life. They ingest plastic by mistaking it for their natural food, such as jellyfish, or by accidentally eating plastic that is present among their natural food. Plastic can cause blockages in their intestines and even pierce the intestinal wall, causing internal bleeding. Plastic in the turtle’s stomach can also imitate the sensation of being full, leading to starvation.
Individuals can take action in their everyday lives to reduce the amount of waste entering our oceans. This includes investing in reusable containers, bringing your own cutlery, and picking up trash when you see it.
It is estimated that at least 1,000 sea turtles die each year due to entanglement in plastic, and thousands more from ingestion of plastic or other marine debris.
Aside from plastic pollution, toxic metals and petroleum products can cause immediate harm to sea turtles through direct contact or by building up in their tissues over time, leading to immunosuppression and death. Drilling for oil can also cause pollution from spills, and toxins can accumulate in the food chain, causing diseases like fibropapillomas.
Researchers believe there is a link between ocean pollution and a disease known as "FP", which causes cauliflower-shaped tumors on external soft parts and internal organs of sea turtles. External FP tumors can create drag and slow sea turtles down, making them more vulnerable to predation and collisions with boats. Tumors around the eyes can cause blindness, and tumors around the mouth can impair breathing and feeding.
