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Sea turtle emerges from the sea to nest
with
partially
ingested plastic hanging from her mouth
Photo: Melbourne Zoo, Australia
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Sea
turtles migrate thousands of kilometres across seas and oceans to
mates, nest and feed. Hatchlings will return when mature 25 to 30
years later, to the same beach on which they were born to lay their
own eggs using some of the most remarkable feats of orientation
and navigation.
However,
nesting beaches will, during a season, also accommodate hundreds,
even thousands, of tourists who may unknowingly affect incubation
of the eggs or destroy nests or prevent hatchlings from reaching
the sea, by spreading towels, setting up umbrellas, playing games,
making sand castles and riding horses. Shadows from towels, beach
furniture, and umbrellas over the nests affect temperatures and
subsequently affect the sex of hatchlings (cool temperature results
in mostly males, warm in mostly females). Lights from hotels and
developments close to the beach can disorientate hatchlings and
prevent them from reaching the sea at night. Those that don’t
make it to the sea will not survive. . It is no wonder that
only an estimated one in 1,000 hatchlings reaches the age to reproduce!
Between
exhaustive one to two hour nesting sessions, female turtles rest
on the surface of the water to recover their strength, facing a
great risk from lethal speedboat propellers and buzzing jet-skis.
Many turtles have been maimed or killed in this way.
Sea
turtles need an undisturbed and quiet beach at night in order
to nest. Many females, rather than face the trauma of a trip
ashore on a disturbed beach, abort their eggs in the sea where
they rot on the sea floor… |
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Land and sea borne small garbage (e.g. plastic wrappings)
can be ingested by sea turtles in mistake for food, often
leading to their death by choking, starvation or internal
injury.
Throughout
their lives, turtles of differing ages and species travel
extensively throughout the Mediterranean Sea. During their
movements, the turtles come into contact with a great deal
of fishing activity, nearly all of which is potentially lethal
to them. It is estimated that at least 6000-8000 Mediterranean
sea turtles are caught by fishing activities every year (Demetropoulos).
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Despite
extensive research, publicity, and an increased public concern
for their conservation, sea turtles, especially greens, remain
under serious threat of extinction in the Mediterranean. Lack
of enforcement of national and international laws, conventions,
and European Community directives is largely due to ignorance
and indifference on the part of individuals, policy makers,
and authorities. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) play
an important role in sea turtle conservation throughout the
Mediterranean through research, public awareness, and environmental
education projects. |
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