Green Sea Turtles
The Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) is the second largest species of turtles (after the
leatherback species), they can weigh up to 225 kg and reach 1.2m in length and, those
that are able to reach maturity, can live up to 90 years. Its habitat focuses mostly in
tropical and subtropical seas around the world (mostly in the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans) and, like other sea turtles, they migrate long distances between feeding
grounds and the beaches from where they hatched.
They are one of the only herbivorous species of turtles, consuming seagrasses,
seaweeds, and algae, which affect their color. Despite their name, their shell is dark
brown or olive, while their cartilage and fat have a greenish color. In the Eastern Pacific,
they are smaller, differently shaped, and darker, leading locals to call them “black
turtles”. Some researchers suggest they may be a separate species rather than a sub-
species.
They are very important to ecosystems since they feed on various species of
seagrasses, using their pointy beak to bite off the sharp seagrass and scrap algae off of
hard surfaces, making it grow healthy and a nice and sustainable environment for other
species to reproduce and use their “cut” seagrass as grounds for nurseries of several
invertebrates and fish, therefore having a very important role to human and animal food
security.
The green sea turtle is considered endangered since 1982 and protected from
exploitation in most countries, however, they are still vulnerable to extinction due to a
number of factors:
-Overharvesting of their eggs and illegal trade by hunting of adults for human
consumption and their shell for their profitable value (tens of thousands of green turtles
are harvested every year, particularly in parts of Asia and the Western Pacific. Along the
Eastern Pacific coast of Mexico, despite complete protection, green turtles are still at
risk from exploitation. In West Africa, sea turtles are killed for use in medicine and some
traditional ceremonies)
-Being caught in fishing nets or hooks (worldwide, hundreds of thousands of sea
turtles a year are accidentally caught in fishing gear meant for other sea animals. Sea
turtles need to reach the surface to breathe, and therefore many drown once caught.
Known as bycatch, it is a serious hazard for green turtles. As fishing activity expands,
this threat is more of a problem)
-Loss of nesting beach sites by real estate development near their coastal hatching
beaches (sea turtles are extremely dependent on beaches for nesting, females crawl
out on beaches, dig nests, and lay eggs during the night. Later, hatchlings emerge, and
scramble into the water. With uncontrolled coastal development, vehicle traffic on
beaches, and other human activities have directly destroyed or disturbed sea turtle
nesting beaches around the world
-Ocean pollution (due to pollution, there are a lot of new diseases on the rise, one
in particular affects Green Sea turtles especially in Florida, Hawaii, Caribbean and
Australia – Fibropapilloma (also known as FP) which is a disease associated with
lesions and rapid tumor growth on the eyes, mouth, and soft-skin areas, as well as
internal organs. FP, believed to be connected to ocean pollution, has greatly
affected their populations). As well as plastic ingestion by all marine life, not
excluding Green Sea turtles.
Green Sea Turtles are endangered due to a combination of threats, including habitat
destruction, fishing bycatch, and ocean pollution. Conservation efforts nowadays focus
mostly on protecting nesting places, reducing bycatch through modified fishing gear
and practices, and combating overharvesting and illegal hunting of turtles. Additionally,
addressing climate change and pollution, which impact their habitats and food
sources, is crucial.
