Archie Carr Centennial Celebrates Sea Turtles

One hundred years ago today, Dr. Archie Carr was born.  Now you may be asking, “Who is this Archie Carr, and why should I care?”  Well you should care because 50 years ago, Dr. Carr was the founding scientific director of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC).  He was the father of sea turtle research and conservation.  In his honor, the CCC has designated June 16 as World Sea Turtle Day.

Sea turtles are very important, ecologically speaking.  The eggs that don’t hatch act as nutrients for the plants in the sand dunes, where the turtles make their nests.  They are also one of the few critters to eat seagrass, and help maintain the health of the seagrass beds by grazing.  Many species rely on healthy seagrass beds for breeding grounds and nurseries, and sea turtles help maintain the health of the ecosystem.

Worldwide, there are seven species of sea turtle; six of which can be found in the waters of the United States.  These are the Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), and the Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea).  The only only not found in the United States, which is probably why I always forget about it, is the Flatback (Natator depressa).

Sea turtles have been around for more than 100 million years, and now they are threatened…by humans.  Threats like marine pollution (and red tide caused by fertiziler runoff), loss of nesting sites due to coastal development, and ingesting and becoming entangled in marine debris are just the beginning.  Artificial lighting is another hazard–hatchlings become disoriented, and rather than follow the moon light out to the ocean, they venture inland, where they frequently die of dehydration and predation.

Hawksbill populations have declined 90 percent in the last 100 years, in large part due to their popularity for the illegal shell trade.  Even though the trade of sea turtle shells is prohibited under CITES, shells are still sold on the black market.  In fact, sea turtle jewelry and souvenirs are the most frequently seized items by U.S. Customs—so don’t buy sea turtle products!

In addition to certain cultures using sea turtle shells, many cultures worldwide hunt and kill sea turtles for human consumption.  In Latin America, the consumption of sea turtle eggs is believed to increase male potency.  Back in 2005, a Mexican campaign enlisted the help of Playboy model, singer and actress Dorismar to help sex up conservation and change people’s attitudes about the consumption of sea turtle eggs.

The posters say “My man doesn’t need turtle eggs.  Because he knows they don’t make him more potent.”

I personally like the following ad from Grupo Tortuguero, which says “Eating loggerhead will make you slow.”

Commercial fishing is one of the big threats for sea turtles, and shrimp fishing is a big culprit.  Tens of thousands of sea turtles are killed or injured as a result of U.S. fishermen each year.  Just another reason why shrimp suck.  Some fisheries are required to use a Turtle Excluder Device (TED), which is essentially a trapdoor in the fishing net that allows sea turtles to escape.  TEDS reduce sea turtle bycatch by up to 97 percent….when they are used.

Below are some tips from Oceana on how to be sea turtle STEWARD:

• Speak with or write your local government about sea turtles. Let them know you care, and that they should make ocean health a top priority.
• Three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. By minimizing waste and disposing of it properly, sea turtle deaths due to entanglement and ingestion of trash can be prevented. Stop using plastic grocery bags and disposable water bottles, and help clean up the beach.
• Explore from afar. If you see a sea turtle in the wild, respect its privacy by keeping a safe distance and not harassing it, as required under law by the Endangered Species Protection Act.
• Wipe out the demand for products made from turtles, and make an effort to eat seafood caught in a responsible way that minimizes bycatch.
• Adopt a sea turtle, donate to a sea turtle conservation organization, or volunteer with a local sea turtle nest monitoring program or turtle hospital.
• Ride your bike, take the bus, carpool, or walk! Using less energy and encouraging the expansion of renewable energy sources will help reduce the effects of climate change on sea turtles and other marine critters.
• Dim after dark! If you live in a sea turtle nesting area, you can improve nesting conditions and increase hatchling survival by turning off your flashlights, shutting your hotel blinds, turning off your porch light, and encouraging other coastal properties to do the same.

Of course, you can also protect sea turtles through conservation travel by booking trips through organizations like SEE Turtles.