Below the Tides: Zero Starving Sea Turtles

What is the problem?

Sea turtles are classified as endangered species, particularly the Green Sea Turtle and Hawksbill Sea Turtle, both of which are labeled as critically endangered. This status is attributed to human activities, such as commercial fishing and habitat destruction, which violate international agreements like CITES, established to safeguard endangered species. Costal development has further reduced nesting areas, making it challenging for female turtles to lay eggs. The era of industrialization resulted in significant pollution, with examples including plastic and chemical waste that have also inflicted harm upon various habitats. The inadvertent consumption of plastic as food has led to dire consequences for both the turtles and the marine environment. Moreover, the effects of global economic growth, including various forms of pollution and climate change, have taken a toll on the survival of sea turtles.

All these factors collectively exert a significant impact on the global sea turtle population. Sea turtles play a crucial role in maintaining marine food chains and ecosystems. They are recognized as ecological keystone species that provide habitat for other marine life, thus contributing to biodiversity. As herbivores, they regulate seagrass and algae, which in turn benefits coral reefs. The declining sea turtle populations have far-reaching consequences for the marine environment, including disrupted water flow and increased seagrass blocking sunlight. This, in turn, triggers issues like soil erosion, excessive growth of microorganisms, and imbalanced ecosystems. The absence of sea turtles also poses challenges for both predator and prey populations. 

Did you know that only about 0.1%-0.2% of hatchlings survive to adulthood? But why is this number so low? To simplify, let’s envision a scenario where a mother sea turtle lays 1,000 eggs on a beach. After burying the eggs and returning to the sea, approximately 80% of them will successfully hatch (while 20% will not). The hatchlings then embark on a perilous journey back to the sea to evade predators such as crabs, birds and dogs. Even upon reaching the sea, threats persist. This battle for survival is a key reason behind the scarcity of hatchlings that manage to reach adulthood.

The conservation of sea turtles is of paramount importance in maintaining balanced marine ecosystems and preserving biodiversity.

The process of addressing this issue is as follows: 

1. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources has a long and extensive track record of successfully increasing the survival rate of hatchlings into adulthood, thanks to years of knowledge and experience. The more financial support we provide for hatchlings, the greater the hope of achieving equilibrium in the marine environment, both faster and more effectively. 
2. The nurturing duration for a single turtle spans a minimum of 200 days, designed to ensure ample growth and increase the likelihood of a successful reintegration into the natural environment.
3. Upon the completion of their nurturing phase, these turtles can thrive securely until they attain a size conductive to their reintegration into the ocean: a minimum weight of 2kg with a minimum length of 30cm.
4. Sea turtle hatchlings are ready to return to their natural habitat. 

Mr. Arin Thongtang (In) 

Miss. Arisa Thongtang (Aim)

Arinarisathongtang@gmail.com

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