A baby sea turtle crawling on white sandy beach toward the ocean.
A sea turtle swimming underwater with a dark blue background.

The Turtle Threats

Sea turtles face more threats today than ever before. Entangled in fishing nets, mistaking plastic for food, or losing nesting beaches to rising seas and coastal development — their challenges are growing. Light pollution disorients hatchlings. Warmer sands skew the balance of male and female births.

And illegal trade still claims their eggs, shells, and meat. These aren’t distant problems — they’re happening now, in waters and coastlines around the world. Protecting sea turtles means confronting these threats head-on, with science, advocacy, and care.

A sea turtle swimming underwater over a coral reef.
Underwater scene showing a turtle swimming near rocks with sunlight shining down from the surface.
  • Close-up of a sea turtle swimming in the water.

    Plastic Peril

    Turtles often mistake floating plastic for jellyfish, leading to fatal blockages and internal injuries.

  • A sea turtle swimming in clear water with visible sunlight reflections on the sandy bottom.

    Ghost Gear

    Lost and abandoned fishing nets silently trap and drown countless sea turtles every year.

  • A woman with short black hair smiling outdoors, wearing a blue top, surrounded by green plants.

    Coastal Chaos

    Urban development and beach tourism destroy nesting sites, leaving females with nowhere to lay their eggs.

  • Close-up of a sea turtle swimming in the water.

    Climate Crisis

    Rising temperatures affect hatchling gender ratios and intensify storms that erode crucial nesting beaches.

  • A sea turtle swimming in clear water with visible sunlight reflections on the sandy bottom.

    Entanglement Everywhere

    Discards like balloon ribbons, fishing lines, and six-pack rings trap flippers and necks, often fatally.

  • A woman with short black hair smiling outdoors, wearing a blue top, surrounded by green plants.

    Oil Spills

    Toxic oil spills poison turtles and completely smother the ecosystems they depend on.