Save The Sea Turtles
By: Chloe Sell
Essential Question
What is the best way to raise money and awareness for Sea Turtle Conservancy?
What Will Happen If Sea Turtles Become Extinct?
Problem
Why
Poaching:
In many countries sea turtle eggs are delicacies, and sea turtle shells are used to make jewelry and decorations.
Destruction of nesting habitat:
When buildings are built on beaches, or on the coast, the ecosystem is harmed and the beach becomes unhealthy. Sea turtles can no longer nest on those beaches.
Boat Propellers:
When boat drivers do not turn off their engine propellers in sea turtle water, the propellers can cut right through the sea turtle shells.
Pollution:
Sea turtles can confuse pollution with food and get stuck or strangled by the garbage, they are not able to surface for air.
Poor fishing practices:
Sea turtles can get caught on fishing hooks or stuck in fishing nets.
If Sea Turtles Become Extinct...
Sea Grass
Sea turtles are one of the very few animals to eat sea grass. If seagrass beds are unhealthy the animals that depend on it and that we depend on will lose their habitat.
Tourism
Many coastal cities source of income relies on sea turtles nesting and coming on their beaches. If sea turtles become extinct, these cities will lose their largest source of income.
Sand Dunes
Unhatched nests and eggs are very good sources of nutrients for the dune vegetation. If sea turtles become extinct, beaches will erode and become unhealthy ecosystems.
Jellyfish overgrowth
If sea turtles die out, jellyfish will overpopulate and make lots of water very unsafe.
Protective Progression
Finding nests to protect the eggs
is effective because keeps humans and animals from disturbing the nest
Protected areas/ national parks
are effective because keeps the remaining sea turtles relatively undisturbed
Coastal sea turtle hospitals
are effective because hurt sea turtles can be nursed quickly and returned to the sea
Education
is effective because coastal residents and visitors are taught to turn outside lights off as to not disturb the sea turtles
Protective laws
in many countries not effective because the laws are not strongly, or not at all, enforced as poaching still continues
What YOU Can Do
In The Midwest
- Donate
- Reduce the amount of chemicals that wash into the ocean
- Pick up trash and litter
On The Beach
- Don’t disturb nests
- Clean the beach
- Volunteer
- as well as everything listed above