Dec 24, 2024 | written by: Lara Zambonelli
Caring for the Earth also means caring for the animals that have inhabited it for much, much longer than we have, and sea turtles are among the oldest living creatures. Today's species are not much different from those that inhabited the earth millions of years ago. Yet despite their evolutionary longevity, they too have ended up among the endangered species.
However, we should not resign ourselves to the idea that there is nothing we can do. Recently, an extraordinary event demonstrated that our actions can make a difference.
In the Mediterranean Sea, the Caretta Caretta was removed from the IUCN Red List, moving from being considered endangered to “Least Concerned,” meaning no longer vulnerable. This incredible achievement was achieved thanks to the combined efforts of groups such as Plastic Free, biologists and volunteers, who have dedicated themselves to the recovery and care of the turtles, as well as raising awareness of good practices to protect them.
Encouraged by this achievement, we are partnering with Plastic Free again this year, with the goal of saving even more turtles and perhaps being able to bring even Chelonia mydas, currently still classified as endangered, to a safer situation.
For every Turtle Tree, a special White Mangrove, planted through treedom.net, 5 euros will be donated directly to Plastic Free for this purpose.
Your support will cover the costs of maintaining the facility, purchasing the necessary materials for the tanks, purchasing medicine for treatment, buying food, veterinary surgery expenses, and all essential nest monitoring activities.
In addition, planting trees helps to absorb CO₂ and combat climate change, from whose consequences sea turtles already suffer, as Piero Carlino, director of the Calimera Turtle Recovery Center and contact person for the Plastic Free Turtle Project, explains.
What does the Calimera Turtle Recovery Center deal with?
The Center mainly carries out two actions:
Recovery of sea turtle specimens in distress at sea, which may be found floating or beached due to bad weather or drops in temperature. The center handles about 70 of these animals, the number of which may vary depending on weather conditions.
It collaborates with volunteers who monitor beaches after storm surges for stranded turtles and works with fishermen who report turtles caught incidentally in nets or longlines. It also deals with boat impacts, especially those involved in accidents with fast boats.
In short, the center is dedicated to the recovery and monitoring of sea turtles in distress, as well as the prevention and management of impacts resulting from human activity, such as fishing and collisions with boats.
This sea turtle was found with a large hook in her throat and fortunately, thanks to emergency surgery, we were able to give her a second chance, a second life. Photo from Plastic Free
What are the impacts of climate change on the welfare of sea turtles?
Climate change has a significant impact on the welfare of sea turtles, affecting several crucial aspects of their life cycle and migratory habits. One of the main consequences is related to sea temperature, which plays a crucial role in the distribution and survival of these creatures.
Sea turtles spend the first part of their lives in the open sea, often taking advantage of ocean currents to move. However, this behavior exposes them more to climate change, including sudden drops in temperature and unpredictable storm surges. Changing sea temperatures and the frequency of storm surges can destabilize turtles' natural habitats and affect their migration patterns.
Another critical issue is the overheating of waters, which can directly affect the migration of females colonizing nesting areas. This phenomenon can be clearly observed in some regions, as in the case of Salento, where the number of sea turtle nests has increased significantly in recent years. This shift to more northern areas can be attributed to the anomalous warming of waters, which makes traditional nesting areas less suitable or even inhospitable for reproduction. In the Salento area, we had detected only one nest in 2006. Last year that had increased to 33.
What do you do to help the turtles?
To help the turtles, we have taken several preventive and conservation measures to protect sea turtles and preserve their natural habitat.
- We protect nests on beaches by fencing them off to avoid human interference and monitoring them to ensure optimal incubation conditions.
We keep beaches free of obstacles such as umbrellas and sunbeds to allow female turtles to lay eggs without difficulty.
We adequately illuminate beaches to avoid confusion in turtles, which may be disoriented and head in the wrong direction, finding themselves on the road and risking being crushed.
We remove obstacles from egg-laying areas and if necessary create artificial nests to protect the eggs from storm surges.
This green turtle was rescued after it became trapped in fishermen's nets and was in danger of dying from the cold. This is a rare species that, due to climate change, we also find on our shores. They are species from Turkey. photo from Plastic Free
Allies for biodiversity
Common sea turtles play a vital role in the marine ecosystem. Their carapace hosts true communities of small plants and animals, especially crustaceans, creating a unique and vital habitat for numerous marine organisms. This interaction highlights the concept that in nature each element has its own specific function and contributes to the well-being of the ecosystem as a whole.
Sea turtles have a significant impact on regulating populations of other marine species. They feed on sponges and other organisms, freeing up space and resources for other life forms. This behavior contributes to the regulation of biodiversity in reefs and coral reefs, allowing a variety of marine organisms to grow and develop. Their presence supports the biological diversity of marine ecosystems, maintaining an ecological balance crucial to ocean health.
Allies against climate change
The diet of sea turtles includes a wide range of plant and animal species, including seaweed that has the unique ability to store up to 35 percent more CO₂ than terrestrial forests. This phenomenon is crucial because the more turtles eat of it, the more lushly the seaweed grows, increasing its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the marine environment. This process contributes to mitigating the effects of climate change, providing a tangible example of how marine species can influence the balance of the global climate.
What threats remain for these species?
Climate change still presents a significant threat to sea turtles. As temperatures rise, there is a risk of feminization of the species, as above 29 degrees Celsius sea turtles are all born female. This could lead to a population decline in the long term if effective measures are not taken to mitigate the effects of global warming.
The role of fishermen is crucial in sea turtle conservation because they share the same marine environment. It is essential to train fishermen so that they can become the first line of defense for marine species. When fishermen understand the importance of protecting sea turtles, it has a direct impact on their well-being and the sustainability of their business. A fisherman who is informed about why it is important to protect sea turtles will be more inclined to adopt sustainable fishing practices and actively cooperate in the conservation of these threatened species.
