How many turtles are endangered

Accidental catch in commercial fisheries or entanglement in marine debris are serious threats to sea turtles, as well as destruction of beach habitat, harvesting or poaching for meat and eggs, and even boat strikes. But people aren't just sitting by, nations are working together to protect and conserve sea turtles.

In , an international agreement made it illegal to trade all seven species of sea turtles and their eggs, shells, or meat internationally. Governments are figuring out ways to reduce bycatch such as requiring new designs of fishing gear and changes to fishing practices to make them less likely to capture turtles.

And, marine protected areas are being established in important sea turtle habitats. Conservation organizations are working with local communities to help change fishing practices as well as transition incomes away from turtle harvesting and toward turtle tourism.

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Skip to content. How many sea turtles are left? The leatherback, the largest living sea turtle, is 7 feet from flipper to flipper and can weigh up to 2, pounds.

Seven species of sea turtles have managed to survive to modern times. All are considered threatened or endangered. Mainly overharvesting of sea turtles for meat, eggs, leather, and tortoise shells up until the s caused turtle populations to crash. All species of sea turtles are threatened or endangered and protected through Florida Statues, Chapter , and by the United States Endangered Species Act of Sea turtle populations have been seriously reduced worldwide through a number of human influences.

Pollution of the waters via trash, chemicals, and discarded fishing nets, lines, and hooks are frequently ingested by sea turtles causing internal health issues. Incidental capture of sea turtles in fishing nets and shrimp trawls, can prevent sea turtles from reaching the surface to breathe.