Loggerhead
Turtle
Human Impact
- Why is the Loggerhead Turtle going Extinct?
These turtles move all over the world so they are a shared resource among many nations. Although Loggerhead sea turtles are protected by various international treaties, (Loggerhead Sea Turtle. National Wildlife Federation, 2015) the conservation efforts in one country may be jeopardized by activities in another. Protecting sea turtles on U.S. nesting beaches and in U.S. waters alone, therefore, is not sufficient to ensure the continued existence of the species. (Loggerhead Turtle. NOAA Fisheries, 2014) Long-term international cooperation is absolutely essential for recovery and stability of nesting populations (Loggerhead Sea Turtle. US Fish and Wildlife Service).
Everyday activities are harming the majestic Loggerhead Turtle. They face threats both on beaches and in the ocean that hurt thousands of turtles. Scientists use the term HIPPCO to describe the main threats on endangered species. It stands for Habitat destruction, Invasive species, Population and resource growth, Pollution, Climate change, and Overexploitation. The turtles are endangered due to several of these man made causes. Persistent population declines due to the fishing industry, pollution, development in their nesting areas, climate change, and directed harvest among other factors, have kept this wide-ranging seagoer on the endangered species list since 1978 (Loggerhead Sea Turtle. National Geographic, 2015).
Fishing Industry:
The largest threat to these beautiful creatures lies within the vast fishing industry. Boat Strike or watercraft strikes are fast moving boats that have the potential to cause marine turtle injury or death (Caretta caretta, 2015). Mortalities due to interactions between loggerhead turtles and commercial bottom trawl fisheries, otherwise known as shrimp trawling, and incidental capture in fishing gear impede the recovery of Loggerhead populations worldwide. Like many animals that come in contact with commercial fishing, the turtles are brutally treated; they are thrown and killed or released into the water with fatal injuries. In the U.S. alone, several hundred loggerheads interact with commercial bottom trawl gear each year despite efforts made to reduce the number of encounters with devices such as the TED or turtle excluder device
(Murray, 2014). The United States were so concerned about the North Pacific loggerhead population that in 2000, they shut down Hawaii’s $55 million per year swordfish fleet to develop ways to avoid bycatch (Loggerhead Sea Turtle. National Wildlife Federation, 2015). Legal and illegal fishery activities in some countries cause high mortality rates. Many countries don’t have the same protection laws or don't have the resources to properly monitor the fishing industry. In some places more than 17 turtles are caught per day, by a single operation, that's more turtles than are allowed for the entire Hawaii longline fleet in a whole year (Loggerhead Sea Turtle, US Fish and Wildlife Service website).
Many small-scale fishing operations off the coast of Baja, Mexico overlap with high concentrations of loggerhead turtles. The combination of the indiscriminate gillnets and long-line fishing gear and the density of Loggerhead Turtles results in a deadly situation for the turtles (Information About Sea Turtles: Loggerhead Sea Turtle, 2015).
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Longline Fishing
Turtles can be hooked on the front and hind flippers, head, mouth, neck and carapace or get entangled in either the monofilament, mainline or ball drop/buoy line. In pot fisheries, turtles may become entangled in the float lines or enter pot traps. The turtles become stuck under water, unable to get to air, they drown. If they can manage to get free it is often at a great cost, they can be fatally injured or mutilated by the netting. Globally, long line fishing is likely to have had a significant impact on populations of Loggerhead Turtles, more than 200,000 Loggerhead Turtles were estimated to have been taken as pelagic longline bycatch in 2000 globally (Caretta caretta, 2015).
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Shark Control Programs
The setting of nets to limit shark movement off popular swimming beaches presents a threat to all marine turtle species. Between 1998 and 2002, 464 Loggerhead turtles were captured in these nets. Luckily, due to increased awareness 90% of the turtles are now released from the nets before they die (Caretta caretta, 2015).
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34% of sea turtles have the deadly disease Fibropapillomatosis (Information About Sea Turtles: Loggerhead Sea Turtle, 2015).
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Up to 400 kg of debris can be found per kilometer of coastline along remote parts of northern Australian (Caretta caretta, 2015).
Maine Pollution:
Marine pollution is becoming a larger and larger issue in modern society as awareness rises about the degree of trash that can be found in oceans all over the world, as well as the effects of oil spills on marine life (Loggerhead Sea Turtle. National Wildlife Federation, 2015). Fishermen aiding in oil spill clean ups have reported seeing turtles burned alive on the surface of the water. They are found stranded in spill areas with oil clogging their airways and digestive paths. The oil that washes up on the beaches also makes disturbs the important nesting habitat for female Loggerheads (Information About Sea Turtles: Loggerhead Sea Turtle).
The injury and death of loggerhead turtles as a result of ingestion or entanglement of marine debris has been listed as a key threatening process under the The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Fishing line, rope and cord fragments, Styrofoam beads, tar balls, plastic bags and balloons are all known to have killed marine turtles through ingestion or entanglement (Caretta caretta, 2015). It's literally means the turtles are eating a substance that has toxic chemicals that will never break down, plastics that are known to be horrible for humans are commonly found in our oceans. Many turtles are currently being found with a new disease thought to be an effect of marine pollution in the oceans and in nearshore waters. Fibropapillomatosis (FP) creates external tumors that grow to outrageous sizes and debilitate the turtles (Fibropapillomatosis, 2016).
Coastal development:
Along with the fishing industry, coastal development is one of the leading causes endangering the loggerhead turtle. It's estimated that only 1 in 1,000 hatchlings will survive to adulthood. Once out of the nest, hatchlings face many predators including ghost crabs, birds, raccoons, dogs, and fish. They also must be able to find their way to the water from their sandy nests (Baby Sea Turtles).
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Infrastructure and Development
The greatest threat on land to the turtles however, is loss or degradation of their nesting habitat due to coastal development, such as beach armoring, a practice of creating concrete walls along the beach to protect homes (Information About Sea Turtles: Loggerhead Sea Turtle, 2015). The female loggerheads need shorelines with suitable sand, and space to lay their precious eggs on which puts them in direct danger of human disturbance as the adorable baby turtles emerge from their eggs (Loggerhead Sea Turtle. National Wildlife Federation, 2015). Coastal developments, including residential, industrial and tourism development, can directly destroy or degrade beach habitats used as nesting
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Light pollution
Hatchlings use the natural light horizon, which is usually over the ocean, to reach the water when they emerge from the nest. Any other light sources, or human disturbances can lead hatchlings in the wrong direction, also known as disorientation (Baby Sea Turtles). Light pollution on nesting beaches alters nocturnal behaviors in sea turtles, including, how sea turtles choose nesting sites, and how they return to the sea after nesting. Significant sources of altered light horizons may occur with coastal real estate and tourist facilities within line of sight of the nesting beaches (Caretta caretta, 2015).
sites. Uncontrolled vehicle access on nesting beaches also poses a threat to the nests and turtles (Caretta caretta, 2015). Army bases in Florida practice with tanks and other army vehicles even performing beach landings, excavations, aerial bombing simulations and missile defence systems on known nesting beaches, where they can destroy nests or even hit the turtles (Loggerhead Sea Turtle. US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2015).
Climate change:
Scientist universally agree that humans have produced global warming through the use of fossil fuels and billions of car emissions and industries that pollute the air. Changing temperatures and weather are going to have both direct impacts on Loggerhead turtles, as well as indirect effects through impacts on their critical habitats. Many scientists are concerned that rising global temperatures will result in warmer sand, causing more female than male baby turtles, this is due to a condition called the pivotal temperature that influences the sex of the hatchlings (Baby Sea Turtles).
Hunting:
Although sea turtles have spiritual or mythological importance in many cultures around the world, this has not prevented humans from consuming their eggs or meat. Loggerhead Turtles have long been hunted for their eggs and for leather throughout history. Commonly the turtles are hunted as they come ashore to nest and then their eggs are gathered as well. Poaching is still practiced in Central America and Asia, however the Loggerhead Turtle is not known for its taste and no longer plays a major role in the poaching industry (Information About Sea Turtles: Loggerhead Sea Turtle, 2015). Dogs and other predators both native and non-native that have now been released on the beaches also contribute to the loss of eggs resulting in lower population numbers (Loggerhead Sea Turtle. National Wildlife Federation, 2015).
There are many socioeconomic effects on the turtles, unfortunately many of them contributing to the extinction of the loggerhead turtle. All of these industries are directly impacted by normal people like you, there are many efforts being made to protect the Loggerhead Turtle through laws and organizations and there is a lot you can do!