THE IMPACTS ON SEA TURTLES AND THE GLOBAL
SEA TURTLE CONVENTIONS
Author: SAMUEL RUPESH RAJKUMAR
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 6
CHAPTER 2: IMPACTS ON SEA TURTLES 9
2.1: Introduction to Coastal Development 9
2.1.1: Tourism 11
2.2: Coastal Development affecting the sea turtles 11
2.2.1: Artificial Lighting 13
2.3: Pollution 17
2.3.1: Plastic waste 17
2.3.2: What are the changes needed 20
2.4: Oil Pollution 21
CHAPTER 3: SEA TURTLES AFFECTED DUE 23
TO CLIMATE CHANGE
3.1: Impacts of Temperature 25
3.2: Importance of Coral Reefs 27
3.3: Importance of Turtles in the Beaches 29
CHAPTER 4: CONVENTIONS ON SEA 30
TURTLES
4.1: The convention on International Trade in 31
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
4.2: Convention on Migratory Species 36
4.3: Convention on the Conservation of European 42
Wildlife and Natural Habitat (Bern convention)
,4.4: Inter-American Convention for the Protection and 49
Conservation of sea turtles
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION 51
, CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
There are a lot of animals in the world and it can be said that most of the animals are in the verge of
extinction. There are a few well known vertebrates such as the tigers, whales and pandas who are
becoming endangered and, in this list, even the turtles are been flagged as endangered and it is one of
the oldest reptiles which is still present from the pre-historically days 1. Hence this dissertation
examines the importance of sea turtles and how they the affected due the natural environment as well
as man made disasters.
Now the question is, what are these sea turtles? The Sea turtles are present in this world from the early
days of mankind and they have adopted their life in the ocean. These turtles belong to the family of
Reptilian, Animalia, Phylum Chordata and other Testudines and there were about 13 families of Sea
turtles and about 356 species2. Now there are around 7 species of Sea turtles and they are Loggerhead,
Leatherback, Green turtles, Hawksbill, Kemp’s Ridley, Olive Ridley and Flatback 3. These turtles
mostly live in different parts of the globe, except the Flatback Sea turtle which lives only in
Australia4. These turtles are considered as marine creatures but however they return to the land for
nesting and after the eggs are hatched the hatchlings return back to the sea. This process is similar in
all 7 types of species and their behaviour is similar to each other. The female turtles for instance
mostly lays around 1 to 10 eggs per season and this process takes place during 10 to 20 days and these
turtles lays eggs every 2 to 4 years but the Olive and kemp’s Ridley does it every 1 year 5. The turtles
are much comfortable in the ocean, but however they need a land for laying eggs. The land is needed
for the baby turtles to breathe as they cannot breathe inside the water. The hatchlings have the ability
to breathe when they are inside the shell and even when they are buried inside the sand, hence this is
considered as a main reason for the female turtles to lay eggs in the beach 6.
1
Jeffrey A. Seminoff and Kartik Shanker, 'Marine Turtles And IUCN Red Listing: A Review Of The Process, The Pitfalls,
And Novel Assessment Approaches' (2008) 356 Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. P.52-53
2
Victor Kiprop, 'How Many Species Of Turtles Are There?' (WorldAtlas, 2020) < https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-
many-species-of-turtles-are-there.html > accessed 21 July 2020.
3
'Sea Turtles' (Defenders of Wildlife) < https://defenders.org/wildlife/sea-turtles > accessed 19 July 2020.
4
'Information About Sea Turtles: Species Of The World – Sea Turtle Conservancy' (Conserveturtles.org) <
https://conserveturtles.org/information-sea-turtles-species-world /> accessed 5 July 2020.
5
Sarah Milton and Peter Lutz, Effects Of Oil On Marine Mammals And Sea Turtles (National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, US Dept of Commerce 2010).p.21.
6
'Why Won’T A Female Sea Turtle Lay Her Eggs In The Ocean? How Do Baby Turtles Know Where The Ocean Is When
They Hatch From Their Eggs? | Ask Dr. Universe |
Washington State University' (Ask Dr. Universe) < https://askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2020/01/31/wont-female-sea-turtle-lay-
eggs-ocean-baby-turtles-know-ocean-hatch-eggs /> accessed 21 July 2020.
4
SEA TURTLE CONVENTIONS
Author: SAMUEL RUPESH RAJKUMAR
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 6
CHAPTER 2: IMPACTS ON SEA TURTLES 9
2.1: Introduction to Coastal Development 9
2.1.1: Tourism 11
2.2: Coastal Development affecting the sea turtles 11
2.2.1: Artificial Lighting 13
2.3: Pollution 17
2.3.1: Plastic waste 17
2.3.2: What are the changes needed 20
2.4: Oil Pollution 21
CHAPTER 3: SEA TURTLES AFFECTED DUE 23
TO CLIMATE CHANGE
3.1: Impacts of Temperature 25
3.2: Importance of Coral Reefs 27
3.3: Importance of Turtles in the Beaches 29
CHAPTER 4: CONVENTIONS ON SEA 30
TURTLES
4.1: The convention on International Trade in 31
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
4.2: Convention on Migratory Species 36
4.3: Convention on the Conservation of European 42
Wildlife and Natural Habitat (Bern convention)
,4.4: Inter-American Convention for the Protection and 49
Conservation of sea turtles
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION 51
, CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
There are a lot of animals in the world and it can be said that most of the animals are in the verge of
extinction. There are a few well known vertebrates such as the tigers, whales and pandas who are
becoming endangered and, in this list, even the turtles are been flagged as endangered and it is one of
the oldest reptiles which is still present from the pre-historically days 1. Hence this dissertation
examines the importance of sea turtles and how they the affected due the natural environment as well
as man made disasters.
Now the question is, what are these sea turtles? The Sea turtles are present in this world from the early
days of mankind and they have adopted their life in the ocean. These turtles belong to the family of
Reptilian, Animalia, Phylum Chordata and other Testudines and there were about 13 families of Sea
turtles and about 356 species2. Now there are around 7 species of Sea turtles and they are Loggerhead,
Leatherback, Green turtles, Hawksbill, Kemp’s Ridley, Olive Ridley and Flatback 3. These turtles
mostly live in different parts of the globe, except the Flatback Sea turtle which lives only in
Australia4. These turtles are considered as marine creatures but however they return to the land for
nesting and after the eggs are hatched the hatchlings return back to the sea. This process is similar in
all 7 types of species and their behaviour is similar to each other. The female turtles for instance
mostly lays around 1 to 10 eggs per season and this process takes place during 10 to 20 days and these
turtles lays eggs every 2 to 4 years but the Olive and kemp’s Ridley does it every 1 year 5. The turtles
are much comfortable in the ocean, but however they need a land for laying eggs. The land is needed
for the baby turtles to breathe as they cannot breathe inside the water. The hatchlings have the ability
to breathe when they are inside the shell and even when they are buried inside the sand, hence this is
considered as a main reason for the female turtles to lay eggs in the beach 6.
1
Jeffrey A. Seminoff and Kartik Shanker, 'Marine Turtles And IUCN Red Listing: A Review Of The Process, The Pitfalls,
And Novel Assessment Approaches' (2008) 356 Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. P.52-53
2
Victor Kiprop, 'How Many Species Of Turtles Are There?' (WorldAtlas, 2020) < https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-
many-species-of-turtles-are-there.html > accessed 21 July 2020.
3
'Sea Turtles' (Defenders of Wildlife) < https://defenders.org/wildlife/sea-turtles > accessed 19 July 2020.
4
'Information About Sea Turtles: Species Of The World – Sea Turtle Conservancy' (Conserveturtles.org) <
https://conserveturtles.org/information-sea-turtles-species-world /> accessed 5 July 2020.
5
Sarah Milton and Peter Lutz, Effects Of Oil On Marine Mammals And Sea Turtles (National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, US Dept of Commerce 2010).p.21.
6
'Why Won’T A Female Sea Turtle Lay Her Eggs In The Ocean? How Do Baby Turtles Know Where The Ocean Is When
They Hatch From Their Eggs? | Ask Dr. Universe |
Washington State University' (Ask Dr. Universe) < https://askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2020/01/31/wont-female-sea-turtle-lay-
eggs-ocean-baby-turtles-know-ocean-hatch-eggs /> accessed 21 July 2020.
4
