Essay On Sea Turtle

Sea Turtle

Sea turtles are exquisite ocean creatures that are quickly disappearing from our oceans. The population of sea turtles in the oceans is directly affected by three main factors related to human interference. Sea turtles are one of the oldest reptile groups. They are even older than snakes or lizards. Seas turtles are quickly disappearing from our oceans as pollution from trash, oil, gases and the unconscious fisherman are hurting this beautiful creature.

One of the biggest threats to the sea turtle population is Marine pollution. Marine pollution is made up of oil spills, chemicals, fertilizers, sewage disposal, tar and other toxins. The ocean is a very large part of Earth but that does not mean that these things do not affect it. Most toxins breakdown in the water and go into

plants and animals causing them to be harmed. Some get covered in other toxins and cause their skin and bodies to have reactions. A disease that kills many sea turtles, known as fibropapillomas, is linked to pollution in the ocean. Fertilizer from land causes eutrophication, which is where algal blooms take oxygen from the water and suffocate marine life. Oil is one of the biggest marine pollutes that kills turtles. It is known that 36% of all oil comes from city drains and rivers. Oil does not attach on turtle’s skin like other animals but is does get on their skin, in their eyes, and they will breathe it into their lungs. The food that turtles eat can also be affected by oil and then when turtles consume it the chemicals can kill them. In a study it was shown that 63% of baby turtles had already ingested tar by the time they had turned one. It is known that Florida is where the most reports of affected sea turtle come from. According to the WWF, Marine pollution is also how “turtles can mistake floating plastic materials for jellyfish and choke on them” (wwf.panda.org).
Another hazard for sea turtles is the abundant amount of trash and debris in the ocean. It is estimated that there is 100 million tons of plastic in the oceans. According to the Sea Turtle Inc., “Marine Debris is any persistence solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment” (seaturtleinc.org). With all that plastic, it is guessed that 100 million marine animals are killed. 80% of this comes from land and people. Lots of turtles have been killed or injured due to trash. For example, plastic bags can get caught in their stomach which doesn’t allow them to swallow food properly. Another thing that can happen to turtles is the gas from decomposing trash can get inside a turtle’s body causing it to float which makes it hard to get food and can lead to starvation.
A final problem for the sea turtle population is fishing by careless fishermen.

According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy, “About 250,000 turtles have been estimated to have been killed, injured or captured by fishermen” (conserveturtles.org). Most of the time the turtles are caught by hooks and it damages their internal organs or even pierces all the way through them. They can also be caught in lines or nets that hold them underwater which causes them to drown because they are air breathing reptiles. Nets can cause them to have external injuries from entanglement. Turtles migrate during certain seasons of the year and that is when the most recorded injuries occur. Its also known that about 70 fisheries are a hazard to sea turtles.

Pollution from garbage and other human factors as well as the fishing industry are devastating this beautiful ocean creature. Although there is only 3 main threats to sea turtles mentioned, there are many more. There are also many things the human species can do to prevent or all together stop these hazards from happening. We as a species need to start to take into account this animal as well as others before we lose all of these wonderful

creatures.