Why Marine Turtles are ENDANGERED?

Each and every year, there are thousands of marine turtles cannot be survive to adulthood. The natural obstacles and human threats cause them driving to extinction. The reasons why they are listed as endangered is because of:

A) Direct take

Their beautiful gold and brown shells have been targeted for hunting purpose as to create jewellery and others luxury items. Some of the sea turtles also are been killed for their skin to make leather goods and beauty products that contain sea turtle oil. Even sea turtles eggs are being taken directly and sell to the black market. All of these are illegal.

B) Fisheries

Sea turtle are accidentally captured, injured or killed by fishermen. The reasons they being killed are because of the turtles are migrating through fishing area. Due to their feeding habits, turtles will be attracted by the bait and get caught on the hooks which used to catch fish. The hook could kill them because it could prevent them getting to the surface to get air.

C) Coastal Development

The development of coastal property had destroyed sea turtle’s nesting beaches. It had prevented sea turtles to continue their life cycles. Sea wall construction also is one of the serious threats to affect sea turtles nesting habit.

D) Light Pollution

Lights from the development will discourage females from nesting. When baby’s sea turtles are born, they are following the moonlight and go into the sea. So, if the lights beside the beach are on, it will cause them follow the wrong way.

E) Sea Pollution

Plastic that throw by the people into the sea will cause the sea turtles to the confusion. They may think it is jelly fish and eat it. It could cause them to death. Oil split also is one of the sea pollution that causes the marine life to death. 

Written by:

Demi Chen Yueh Luen (Pretty Mi)