Editing Sea turtle (section)

=== Conservation status and threats ===
{{Main|Threats to sea turtles}}
[[File:Sea turtle entangled in a ghost net.jpg|thumb|upright|A sea turtle entangled in a fishing net]]

The [[IUCN Red List of Endangered Species|IUCN Red List]] classifies three species of sea turtle as either "endangered" or "critically endangered".<ref name=":13">{{cite web|title = The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species|url = http://www.iucnredlist.org/|website = www.iucnredlist.org|access-date = 2015-12-24}}</ref> An additional three species are classified as "vulnerable".<ref name=":13" /> The flatback sea turtle is considered as "data deficient", meaning that its conservation status is unclear due to lack of data.<ref name=":13" /> All species of sea turtle are listed in [[CITES]] Appendix I, restricting international trade of sea turtles and sea turtle products.<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{cite web|title = Checklist of CITES species|url = http://checklist.cites.org|website = checklist.cites.org|access-date = 2015-12-24}}</ref> However, the usefulness of global assessments for sea turtles has been questioned,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Seminoff|first1=Jeffrey A.|last2=Shanker|first2=Kartik|title=Marine turtles and IUCN Red Listing: A review of the process, the pitfalls, and novel assessment approaches|journal=Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology|volume=356|issue=1–2|pages=52–68|doi=10.1016/j.jembe.2007.12.007|year=2008|bibcode=2008JEMBE.356...52S }}</ref> particularly due to the presence of distinct genetic stocks and spatially separated regional management units (RMUs).<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wallace|first1=Bryan P.|last2=DiMatteo|first2=Andrew D.|last3=Hurley|first3=Brendan J.|last4=Finkbeiner|first4=Elena M.|last5=Bolten|first5=Alan B.|last6=Chaloupka|first6=Milani Y.|last7=Hutchinson|first7=Brian J.|last8=Abreu-Grobois|first8=F. Alberto|last9=Amorocho|first9=Diego|date=2010-12-17|title=Regional Management Units for Marine Turtles: A Novel Framework for Prioritizing Conservation and Research across Multiple Scales|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=5|issue=12|pages=e15465|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0015465|pmid=21253007|pmc=3003737|issn=1932-6203|bibcode=2010PLoSO...515465W|doi-access=free}}</ref> Each RMU is subject to a unique set of threats that generally cross jurisdictional boundaries, resulting in some sub-populations of the same species' showing recovery while others continue to decline. This has triggered the IUCN to conduct threat assessments at the sub-population level for some species recently. These new assessments have highlighted an unexpected mismatch between where conservation relevant science has been conducted on sea turtles, and where there is the greatest need for conservation.<ref name=":14">{{Cite journal|last1=Pearson|first1=Ryan M.|last2=van de Merwe|first2=Jason P.|last3=Limpus|first3=Colin J.|last4=Connolly|first4=Rod M.|date=2017|title=Realignment of sea turtle isotope studies needed to match conservation priorities|journal=Marine Ecology Progress Series|language=en|volume=583|pages=259–271|doi=10.3354/meps12353|issn=0171-8630|bibcode=2017MEPS..583..259P| hdl=10072/373398 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> For example, as at August 2017, about 69% of studies using stable isotope analysis to understand the foraging distribution of sea turtles have been conducted in RMUs listed as "least concern" by the IUCN.<ref name=":14" />
Additionally, all populations of sea turtles that occur in United States waters are listed as threatened or endangered by the [[Endangered Species Act|US Endangered Species Act (ESA)]].<ref name="United States Fish & Wildlife Service">{{cite web|publisher=United States Fish & Wildlife Service|title=Endangered Species Program|url=http://www.fws.gov/endangered/|access-date=April 12, 2012}}</ref> The US listing status of the loggerhead sea turtle is under review as of 2012.<ref name="United States Fish & Wildlife Service" />
{| class="wikitable"
!
!'''IUCN Red List'''
!'''United States ESA<sup>*</sup>'''
|-
|[[Green sea turtle|'''Green''']]
|Endangered<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Seminoff, J.A. |collaboration=Southwest Fisheries Science Center, U.S. |date=2004 |title=''Chelonia mydas'' |volume=2004 |page=e.T4615A11037468 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T4615A11037468.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
|Endangered: populations in Florida and Pacific coast of Mexico populations
Threatened: all other populations<ref>{{cite web|title = Green Turtle (''Chelonia mydas'') :: NOAA Fisheries|url = http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/green.html|website = www.nmfs.noaa.gov|access-date = 2015-12-24|language = en-us|first = NOAA|last = Fisheries}}</ref>
|-
|[[Loggerhead sea turtle|'''Loggerhead''']]
|Vulnerable<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Casale, P. |author2=Tucker, A.D. |date=2017 |title=''Caretta caretta'' |volume=2017 |page=e.T3897A119333622 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T3897A119333622.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
|Endangered: NE Atlantic, Mediterranean, N Indian, N Pacific, S Pacific populations
Threatened: NW Atlantic, S Atlantic, SE Indo-Pacific, SW Indian populations<ref>{{cite web|title = Loggerhead Turtle (''Caretta caretta'') :: NOAA Fisheries|url = http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/loggerhead.htm|website = www.nmfs.noaa.gov|access-date = 2015-12-24|language = en-us|first = NOAA|last = Fisheries}}</ref>
|-
|[[Kemp's ridley sea turtle|'''Kemp's ridley''']]
|Critically endangered<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Wibbels, T. |author2=Bevan, E. |date=2019 |title=''Lepidochelys kempii'' |volume=2019 |page=e.T11533A155057916 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T11533A155057916.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
|Endangered: all populations<ref>{{cite web|title = Kemp's Ridley Turtle (''Lepidochelys kempii'') :: NOAA Fisheries|url = http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/kempsridley.html|website = www.nmfs.noaa.gov|access-date = 2015-12-24|language = en-us|first = NOAA|last = Fisheries}}</ref>
|-
|[[Olive ridley sea turtle|'''Olive ridley''']]
|Vulnerable<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Abreu-Grobois, A. |author2=Plotkin, P. |collaboration=IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group |date=2008 |title=''Lepidochelys olivacea'' |volume=2008 |page=e.T11534A3292503 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T11534A3292503.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
|Endangered: Pacific Coast of Mexico population
Threatened: all other populations<ref>{{cite web|title = Olive Ridley Turtle (''Lepidochelys olivacea'') :: NOAA Fisheries|url = http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/oliveridley.html|website = www.nmfs.noaa.gov|access-date = 2015-12-24|language = en-us|first = NOAA|last = Fisheries}}</ref>
|-
|[[Hawksbill sea turtle|'''Hawksbill''']]
|Critically endangered<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Mortimer, J.A. |author2=Donnelly, M. |collaboration=IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group |date=2008 |title=''Eretmochelys imbricata'' |volume=2008 |page=e.T8005A12881238 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T8005A12881238.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
|Endangered: all populations<ref>{{cite web|title = Hawksbill Turtle (''Eretmochelys imbricata'') :: NOAA Fisheries|url = http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/hawksbill.htm|website = www.nmfs.noaa.gov|access-date = 2015-12-24|language = en-us|first = NOAA|last = Fisheries}}</ref>
|-
|[[Flatback turtle|'''Flatback''']]
|Data deficient<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Red List Standards. |author2=Petitions Subcommittee |date=1996 |title=''Natator depressus'' |volume=1996 |page=e.T14363A4435952 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T14363A4435952.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
|N/A
|-
|[[Leatherback sea turtle|'''Leatherback''']]
|Vulnerable<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Wallace, B.P. |author2=Tiwari, M. |author3=Girondot, M. |date=2013 |title=''Dermochelys coriacea'' |volume=2013 |page=e.T6494A43526147 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T6494A43526147.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
|Endangered: all populations<ref>{{cite web|title = Leatherback Turtle (''Dermochelys coriacea'') :: NOAA Fisheries|url = http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/leatherback.html|website = www.nmfs.noaa.gov|access-date = 2015-12-24|language = en-us|first = NOAA|last = Fisheries}}</ref>
|}
<sup>*</sup>The ESA manages sea turtles by population and not by species.
[[File:Protected turtle nesting area II.jpg|thumb|Protected nesting area for turtles in Miami, Florida ]]
==== Management ====
In the Caribbean, researchers are having some success in assisting a comeback.<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Clarren | first = Rebecca | title = Night Life  | journal = Nature Conservancy | volume = 58 | issue = 4 | pages = 32–43 | year = 2008}}</ref> In September 2007, [[Corpus Christi, Texas]], wildlife officials found 128 Kemp's ridley sea turtle nests on Texas beaches, a record number, including 81 on North [[Padre Island]] ([[Padre Island National Seashore]]) and four on [[Mustang Island]]. Wildlife officials released 10,594 Kemp's ridley sea turtle hatchlings along the Texas coast in recent years.

The [[Philippines]] has had several initiatives dealing with the issue of sea turtle conservation. In 2007, the province of [[Batangas]] declared the catching and eating of sea turtles (locally referred to as [[Pawikan]]s) illegal. However, the law seems to have had little effect as sea turtle eggs are still in demand in [[Batangas#Etymology|Batangan]] markets. In September 2007, several Chinese [[Poaching|poachers]] were apprehended off the [[Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi|Turtle Islands]] in the country's southernmost province of [[Tawi-Tawi]]. The poachers had collected more than a hundred sea turtles, along with 10,000 sea turtle eggs.<ref name="PhilStar20070912">{{cite news|last=Adraneda |first=Katherine |title=WWF urges RP to pursue case vs turtle poachers |work=Headlines |publisher=The Philippine Star |date=12 September 2007 |url=http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20070911144 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216153133/http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20070911144 |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 February 2013 |access-date=12 September 2007 }}</ref>

Evaluating the progress of conservation programs is difficult, because many sea turtle populations have not been assessed adequately.<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Bjorndal |first1= Karen |last2= Bowen |first2= Brian |year= 2011 |title= Better science needed for restoration in the Gulf of Mexico |journal= Science |volume= 331 |pages= 537–538 |doi= 10.1126/science.1199935 |last3= Chaloupka |first3= M. |last4= Crowder |first4= L. B. |last5= Heppell |first5= S. S. |last6= Jones |first6= C. M. |last7= Lutcavage |first7= M. E. |last8= Policansky |first8= D. |last9= Solow |first9= A. R. |last10= Witherington |first10= B. E. |issue= 6017 |pmid= 21292956|display-authors= 8 |bibcode= 2011Sci...331..537B |s2cid= 33994573 }}</ref> Most information on sea turtle populations comes from counting nests on beaches, but this does not provide an accurate picture of the whole sea turtle population.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Witherington |first1=B.E. |last2=Kubilis |first2=Anne |last3=Brost |first3=Beth |last4=Meylan |first4=Anne |year=2009 |title=Decreasing annual nest counts in a globally important loggerhead sea turtle population |journal=Ecological Applications |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=30–54 |doi=10.1890/08-0434.1 |pmid=19323172|bibcode=2009EcoAp..19...30W }}</ref> A 2010 United States National Research Council report concluded that more detailed information on sea turtles' life cycles, such as birth rates and mortality, is needed.<ref>{{Cite web | last1=The National Research Council | title=Assessment of Sea Turtle Status and Trends: Integrating Demography and Abundance | publisher=National Academies Press | place=Washington, DC | year=2010 | url=http://dels.nas.edu/Report/Assessment-Turtle-Status/12889}}</ref>

Nest relocation may not be a useful conservation technique for sea turtles. In one study on the freshwater Arrau turtle (''[[Podocnemis expansa]]'') researchers examined the effects of nest relocation.<ref name=":10" /> They discovered that clutches of this freshwater turtle that were transplanted to a new location had higher mortality rates and more morphological abnormalities compared to non-transplanted clutches.<ref name=":10">{{cite journal | last1 = Jaffé | first1 = R. | last2 = Peñaloza | first2 = C. | last3 = Barreto | first3 = G. R. | year = 2008 | title = Monitoring an endangered freshwater turtle management program: effects of nest relocation on growth and locomotive performance of the giant South American turtle (''Podocnemis expansa'', Podocnemididae) | journal = Chelonian Conservation and Biology | volume = 7 | issue = 2| pages = 213–222 | doi=10.2744/CCB-0696.1| s2cid = 86007443 }}</ref> However, in a study of loggerhead sea turtles (''[[Loggerhead sea turtle|Caretta caretta]]''), Dellert et al. found that relocating nests at risk of inundation increased the success of eggs and hatchlings and decreased the risk of inundation.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dellert|first1=Lauren J.|last2=O'Neil|first2=Danielle|last3=Cassill|first3=Deby L.|date=2014-06-01|title=Effects of Beach Renourishment and Clutch Relocation on the Success of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) Eggs and Hatchlings|journal=Journal of Herpetology|volume=48|issue=2|pages=186–187|doi=10.1670/12-135|issn=0022-1511|hdl=10806/11541|s2cid=85697630}}</ref>

==== Predators and disease ====
Most sea turtle mortality happens early in life. Sea turtles usually lay around 100 eggs at a time, but on average only one of the eggs from the nest will survive to adulthood.<ref>Wright, Sara. [http://www.blufftontoday.com/news/2010-08-06/hilton-head-island-sees-record-sea-turtle-nesting-season "Hilton Head Island sees record sea turtle nesting season."] Bluffton Today (2010): n. pag. Web. 8 Dec 2010.</ref> Raccoons, foxes, and seabirds may raid nests or hatchlings may be eaten within minutes of hatching as they make their initial run for the ocean.<ref name=":11">[http://www.seaturtlefoundation.org/threats/natural/ "Natural."] Sea Turtle Foundation. Sea Turtle Foundation, 2010. Web. 8 Dec 2010.</ref> Once in the water, they are susceptible to seabirds, large fish and even other sea turtles.

Adult sea turtles have few predators. Large aquatic carnivores such as sharks and crocodiles are their biggest threats; however, reports of terrestrial predators attacking nesting females are not uncommon. [[Jaguar]]s have been reported to smash into sea turtle shells with their paws, and scoop out the flesh.<ref>Baker, Natural History and Behavior, pp. 8–16</ref>

[[Turtle fibropapillomatosis|Fibropapillomatosis]] disease causes tumors in sea turtles.

While many of the things that endanger sea turtles are natural predators,<ref name=":11"/> increasingly many threats to the sea turtle species have arrived with the ever-growing presence of humans.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Heithaus|first1=Michael R.|last2=Wirsing|first2=Aaron J.|last3=Thomson|first3=Jordan A.|last4=Burkholder|first4=Derek A. |year=2008 |title=A review of lethal and non-lethal effects of predators on adult marine turtles |journal=Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology |volume=356 |issue=1–2 |pages=43–51 |doi=10.1016/j.jembe.2007.12.013|bibcode=2008JEMBE.356...43H }}</ref>

==== Bycatch ====
[[File:logger ted 01.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A loggerhead sea turtle escapes a circular fisherman's net via a TED.|A loggerhead sea turtle exits from a [[fishing net]] through a [[turtle excluder device]] (TED)]]One of the most significant and contemporary threats to sea turtles comes from [[bycatch]] due to imprecise fishing methods. [[Long-lining]] has been identified as a major cause of accidental sea turtle deaths.<ref name="RoyalGazette">{{cite news | last =Moniz | first =Jesse | title =Turtle conservation: It's now very much a political issue | work =News | publisher =The Royal Gazette Ltd. | date =3 February 2007 | url =http://www.royalgazette.com/siftology.royalgazette/Article/article.jsp?sectionId=80&articleId=7d5908e3003001d }}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="NationalGeographic">{{cite news | last=Scales|first = Helen | title =Glow Sticks May Lure Sea Turtles to Death | work =News | publisher =National Geographic News | date =27 April 2007 | url =http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/04/070427-glow-sticks.html | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070430043452/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/04/070427-glow-sticks.html | url-status =dead | archive-date =April 30, 2007 }}</ref> There is also a black-market demand for tortoiseshell for both decoration and supposed health benefits.<ref name="Japan">{{cite web |author=NYSDEC | title =Atlantic Hawksbill Sea Turtle Fact Sheet | publisher =Endangered Species Unit | url =http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/endspec/athafs.html | access-date = 7 February 2007}}</ref>

Sea turtles must surface to breathe. Caught in a fisherman's net, they are unable to surface and thus drown. In early 2007, almost a thousand sea turtles were killed inadvertently in the [[Bay of Bengal]] over the course of a few months after netting.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Fishermen blamed for turtle deaths in Bay of Bengal |work=Science News |publisher=Reuters |date=5 February 2007 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-turtles-idUSDEL1456220070205 |access-date=15 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115114552/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-turtles-idUSDEL1456220070205 |archive-date=15 November 2016}}</ref>

However, some relatively inexpensive changes to fishing techniques, such as slightly larger hooks and traps from which sea turtles can escape, can dramatically cut the mortality rate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seaturtle.org/mtn/archives/mtn113/mtn113p13.shtml|title=MTN 113:13-14 Longline Fishery Panel Discussion at the 26th Annual Sea Turtle Symposium: Cooperative Approaches to Implement Sea Turtle Bycatch Solutions in Longline Fisheries|website=www.seaturtle.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=O'Kelly-Lynch | first=Ruth | title=Govt: Long-line fishing won't hurt birds | url=http://www.royalgazette.com/siftology.royalgazette/Article/article.jsp?sectionId=60&articleId=7d72411300300c5 }}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Turtle excluder device]]s (TEDs) have reduced sea turtle bycatch in shrimp nets by 97 percent.
[[File:Sea turtle nest sign (Boca raton, FL).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Legal notice posted by a sea turtle nest at [[Boca Raton]], [[Florida]]]]

==== Beach development ====
Light pollution from beach development is a threat to baby sea turtles; the glow from city sources can cause them to head into traffic instead of the ocean.<ref name=panama>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsherald.com/news/20181007/disorientation-huge-problem-for-panama-city-beach-sea-turtle-hatchlings|title=Disorientation a huge problem for Panama City Beach sea turtle hatchlings|last=Landeck|first=Katie|date=7 October 2018|journal=[[Panama City News Herald]]}}</ref><ref name=hijos>{{cite episode|title=The Milky Way|series=Hijos de las Estrellas|season=1|number=8|year=2014|network=[[Netflix]]|minutes=37, 43}}</ref> There has been some movement to protect these areas. On the east coast of Florida, parts of the beach known to harbor sea turtle nests are protected by fences.<ref name=hijos/> Conservationists have monitored hatchings, relocating lost baby sea turtles to the beach.<ref name=panama/>

Hatchlings find their way to the ocean by instinctively crawling towards the brightest horizon, which has traditionally been the ocean because of the reflection of light from the moon and the stars on the water's surface, but get disoriented due to the artificial lights along the coastline.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Witherington|first=Blair E|date=|title=Understanding, Assessing, and Resolving Light Pollution Problems on Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches|url=https://www.fws.gov/caribbean/es/PDF/Library%20Items/LightingManual-Florida.pdf|access-date=2021-02-05|website=paed.org.ph}}</ref><ref>[https://hakaimagazine.com/article-short/bright-lights-and-dark-nights-the-challenge-facing-sea-turtles-in-the-city/ Bright Lights and Dark Nights: The Challenge Facing Sea Turtles in the City]</ref> Lighting restrictions can prevent lights from shining on the beach and confusing hatchlings. Sea turtle-safe lighting uses red or amber LED light, invisible to sea turtles, in place of white light.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Information About Sea Turtles: Threats from Artificial Lighting – Sea Turtle Conservancy|url=https://conserveturtles.org/information-sea-turtles-threats-artificial-lighting/|access-date=2021-02-05|language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Poaching ====
[[File:Turtle egg kota bharu.jpg|thumb|Sea turtle eggs sold in a market of Malaysia]]
Another major threat to sea turtles is the black-market trade in eggs and meat. This is a problem throughout the world, but especially a concern in China, the Philippines, India, Indonesia and the coastal nations of Latin America. Estimates reach as high as 35,000 sea turtles killed a year in Mexico and the same number in Nicaragua. Conservationists in Mexico and the United States have launched "Don't Eat Sea Turtle" campaigns in order to reduce this trade in sea turtle products. These campaigns have involved figures such as [[Dorismar]], [[Los Tigres del Norte]] and [[Maná]]. Sea turtles are often consumed during the Catholic season of Lent, even though they are reptiles, not fish. Consequently, conservation organizations have written letters to the Pope asking that he declare sea turtles meat.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Pope Asked to Call Sea Turtles 'Meat'|url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-mar-14-me-turtle14-story.html|newspaper = Los Angeles Times|date = 2002-03-14|access-date = 2015-12-22|issn = 0458-3035|language = en-US|first = Kenneth r.|last = WEISS}}</ref>

==== Marine debris ====
Another danger to sea turtles comes from [[marine debris]], especially plastics, such as in the [[Great Pacific Garbage Patch]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seeturtles.org/ocean-plastic|title=Ocean Plastic|website=SEE Turtles|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref> which may be mistaken for jellyfish, and [[Ghost net|abandoned fishing nets]] in which they can become entangled.

Sea turtles in all types are being endangered by the way humans use plastic. Recycling is known of and people recycle but not everyone does. The amount of plastic in the oceans and beaches is growing every day. The littering<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seeturtles.org/ocean-plastic|title=Ocean Plastic|website=SEE Turtles|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-12}}</ref> of plastic is 80% of the amount.

When turtles hatch from their eggs on the beach, they are already endangered with plastic. Turtles have to find the ocean by themselves and on their journey from land to sea, they encounter a lot of plastic. Some even get trapped in the plastic and die from lack of resources and from the sun being too hot.

Sea turtles eat plastic bags<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/what-do-sea-turtles-eat-unfortunately-plastic-bags|title=What do sea turtles eat? Unfortunately, plastic bags.|website=World Wildlife Fund|language=en|access-date=2019-12-12}}</ref> because they confuse them with their actual diet, jellyfish, algae and other components. The consumption of plastic is different for every breed of sea turtle, but when they ingest the plastic, it can clog their intestines and cause internal bleeding which will eventually kill them.

In 2015, an olive ridley sea turtle was found with a plastic drinking straw lodged inside its nose.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kirkpatrick |first1=Nick |title=Sea turtle trauma: Video shows rescuers extracting plastic straw from deep in nostril |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/08/17/researchers-save-a-sea-turtle-from-a-plastic-straw-in-this-traumatic-video/ |access-date=2 February 2020 |work=Huffington Post}}</ref> The video of [[Nathan J. Robinson (biologist)|Nathan J. Robinson]] has helped raise considerable awareness about the threat posed by [[plastic pollution]] to sea turtles.

The research into turtle consumption of plastic is growing. A laboratory of Exeter<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/05/world/microplastic-pollution-turtles-study-intl-scli/index.html|title=Microplastics found in gut of every sea turtle in new study|author=Matthew Robinson|website=CNN| date=5 December 2018 |access-date=2019-12-12}}</ref> and Plymouth Marine tested 102 turtles and found plastic in every one of their stomachs. The researchers found more than 800 pieces of plastic in those 102 turtles. That was 20 times more than what was found in the last research. Those researchers stated that the most common things found were cigarette buds, tire, plastic in many forms and fishing material.

The chemicals in the plastic that sea life eats damages their internal organs and can also clog their airway. The chemicals in the plastic that they eat is also a leading cause of the death of the turtles. If the turtles are close to laying eggs, the chemicals that they ingested from the plastic can seep into their eggs and affect their offspring. It is unlikely for the baby sea turtles to survive with those chemicals in their system.

There is a large quantity of plastic in the ocean, 80% of which comes from landfills; the ratio of plankton to plastic in the ocean is one to six. The [[Great Pacific Garbage Patch]] is a swirl of garbage in the Pacific Ocean that is {{convert|20|ft|m|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} deep and contains 3.5 million tons of garbage. This is also known as the "plastic island".

==== Climate change ====
[[Climate change]] may also cause a threat to sea turtles. Since sand temperature at nesting beaches defines the sex of a sea turtle while developing in the egg, there is concern that rising temperatures may produce too many females.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://conserveturtles.org/information-sea-turtles-threats-climate-change/|title=Information About Sea Turtles: Threats from Climate Change – Sea Turtle Conservancy|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref> However, more research is needed to understand how climate change might affect sea turtle gender distribution and what other possible threats it may pose.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Hawkes | first1 = LA | last2 =Broderick | first2 =AC | title = Climate change and marine turtles | journal = Endangered Species Research | volume =7 | pages = 137–154| year = 2009 | doi = 10.3354/esr00198 | last3 = Godfrey | first3 = MH | last4 = Godley | first4 = BJ | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Studies have shown that climate<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2018/01/25/not-cool-climate-change-turning-99-sea-turtles-female/|title=Not Cool: Climate Change Turning 99% of These Sea Turtles Female|date=2018-01-25|website=Ocean Conservancy|language=en|access-date=2019-12-12}}</ref> change in the world is making sea turtles gender change. The study that was in January 2018 ''[[Current Biology]]'' "Environmental Warning and Feminization of One of the Largest Sea Turtle Populations in the World", showed how baby sea turtles were being born female a lot more than being born male. Scientists took blood samples from many baby sea turtles near the Great Barrier Reef. Prior to this study, the ratio of male to female was pretty normal. There was a little more female than there was male but it was enough to keep reproduction and life cycle normal. The study showed that there was 99% more female sea turtles then male.

The temperature<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://conserveturtles.org/information-sea-turtles-threats-climate-change/|title=Information About Sea Turtles: Threats from Climate Change – Sea Turtle Conservancy|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-12}}</ref> of the sand has a big impact on the sex of the sea turtle. This is not common with other animals but it is with sea turtles. Warmer or hot sand usually makes the sea turtle female and the cooler the sand usually makes male. Climate change has made the temperatures much hotter than they should be. The temperature of the sand gets hotter every time it is time for sea turtles to lay their eggs. With that, adaption to the sand should occur but it would take generations for them to adapt to that one temperature. It would be hard because the temperature of the sand is always changing.

The sand temperature is not the only thing that impacts sea turtles. The rise of the sea levels messes with their memory. They have an imprinted map in their memory that shows where they usually give birth and go after they do. With the rise in water levels, that map is getting messed up and is hard for them to get back to where they started. It is also taking away their beaches that they lay their eggs on. Climate change also has an impact on the number of storms and the severity of them. Storms can wipe out the sea turtles nesting ground and take out the eggs that already laid. The rising level of water is also a way for the nesting grounds to disappear. Sea turtles maps and their nesting grounds getting destroyed is harmful to them. That is because with their maps being messed up and not being able to lay eggs where they usually do makes it hard for them to find a new place to nest. They usually stick to a schedule and the messing up of a schedule messes them up.

The temperature of the ocean is also rising. This impacts their diet and what they can eat. Coral reefs are majorly impacted by the rising temperatures and a lot of sea turtles' diet is coral reefs or in the coral reef. Most animals that live in coral reefs need the reefs to survive. With the reefs dying, the sea life around it also does, impacting many animals.

==== Oil spills ====
Sea turtles are very vulnerable to oil pollution, both because of the oil's tendency to linger on the water's surface, and because oil can affect them at every stage of their life cycle.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hirsch|first=Masako|title=Gulf oil spill's effects on sea turtles examined|url=http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/06/gulf_oil_spills_effects_on_sea.html|access-date=17 May 2012|newspaper=nola.com|date=9 June 2010}}</ref>  Oil can poison the sea turtles upon entering their digestive system.

Sea turtles<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/about/media/how-do-oil-spills-affect-sea-turtles.html|title=How Do Oil Spills Affect Sea Turtles? {{!}} response.restoration.noaa.gov|website=response.restoration.noaa.gov|access-date=2019-12-12}}</ref> have a cycle that they follow from birth. The cycle depends on the sex of the turtle, but they follow it all the way through life. They start by hatching on the beach, they reach the water then move out to find food. They then start their breeding migration and then mate with another turtle. For females, they make their way to the beach to start it all over again. With males, they go back to feeding after mating and doing that over again. Oil spills can affect this cycle majorly. If the female was to go and lay eggs and ingest oil, the chemicals from the oil can get passed on to the offspring and will be hard for them to survive. The diet of the sea turtles can also be impacted by oil. If the things that they eat has oil on it or has ingested oil, it can get into their system and start attacking the insides of the turtle.

==== Rehabilitation ====
Injured sea turtles are rescued and [[Wildlife rehabilitation|rehabilitated]] (and, if possible, released back to the ocean) by professional organizations, such as the [[Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex|Gumbo Limbo Nature Center]] in Boca Raton, Florida, the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City, North Carolina, and [[Sea Turtles 911]] in Hainan, China.

One rescued sea turtle, named Nickel for the coin that was found lodged in her throat, lives at the [[Shedd Aquarium]] in [[Chicago]].

The goal of rehabilitation is to improve sea turtles' quality of life. Rehabilitation is often carried out using treatments intended to address any injuries or illnesses that a turtle may be suffering from. Another option is [[analgesia]]. Euthanasia frequently relieves the pain of sea turtles who are seriously ill or damaged. <ref name=":25">{{Cite journal |last1=Innis |first1=Charles |last2=Finn |first2=Sarah |last3=Kennedy |first3=Adam |last4=Burgess |first4=Elizabeth |last5=Norton |first5=Terry |last6=Manire |first6=Charles |last7=Harms |first7=Craig |date=16 April 2019 |title=A Summary of Sea Turtles Released from Rescue and Rehabilitation Programs in the United States, with Observations on Re-Encounters |url=https://bioone.org/journals/chelonian-conservation-and-biology/volume-18/issue-1/CCB-1335.1/A-Summary-of-Sea-Turtles-Released-from-Rescue-and-Rehabilitation/10.2744/CCB-1335.1.short |journal=Chelonian Conservation and Biology |volume=18 |issue=1|page=3 |doi=10.2744/CCB-1335.1 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> 

Sea turtles can be returned to the wild if their rehabilitation is complete and they are in optimal health. The larger turtles are given a flipper tag and a [[passive integrated transponder]] (PIT) prior to being released. Despite having identifying tags, the turtles' living conditions often make it difficult to determine the results of rehabilitation.<ref name=":25" />