Ocean Pollution

Sea turtles are vulnerable to ocean pollution at all stages of life, from eggs to hatchlings to juveniles to adults. Pollutants include things like toxic metals, pcb's, petroleum products, and agricultural and industrial runoff of contaminants such as fertilizers, chemicals, nutrients, and untreated waste. Pollutants may cause immediate harm to sea turtles through direct contact or can build up in tissues over time and lead to immunosuppression resulting in disease and death.

Degradation of sea turtle habitat from pollution also poses a threat and can occur over large areas. Sea turtle habitat overlaps with areas most likely to be affected by offshore oil exploration and production. Petroleum pollution occurs from intentional discharge from vessels, vessel groundings, offshore oil exploration and production, transport of oil products, spills, and runoff of oil from land based sources.

Oil from spills far offshore concentrates along convergence zones (where currents meet) which is an important area for post-hatchling and young turtle development. Oil from spills offshore also washes up on beaches where it degrades nesting habitat, and can impact nests, nesting females, and hatchlings making their way to the water.

Sea turtles are also affected by the ingestion of food contaminated by oil, or by ingesting tar balls. Tar balls are formed when crude oil floating in the water begins to degrade. Researchers have found that a large percentage of dead post-hatchlings whose stomach contents have been examined, have ingested tar balls. Tar balls may be fed upon by sea turtles at all stages of life. When turtles come into direct contact with oil it also affects their eyes and mucus membranes, and can damage their airways and lungs.

Fibropapilloma

Also known as FP, this disease is a threat to sea turtle populations worldwide. FP is a disease that causes cauliflower-shaped tumors on external soft parts and internal organs of a sea turtle. The exact cause of FP is still unknown, however, researchers believe there is a link to ocean pollution. External FP tumors can create drag and slow sea turtles down making them more vulnerable to predation and collisions with boats.

Tumors around the eyes can obscure vision and eventually cause blindness, and tumors around the mouth can impair breathing and feeding. In some areas, many stranded and dead turtles have FP tumors. Research is still being done to determine the exact cause and transmission of this disease.

FP was first seen in the 1930's in green turtles in the Florida Keys. In Hawaii, FP was not seen until the late 50's. It was first only observed in isolated areas but now occurs worldwide and in other species including loggerheads, Kemp's and olive ridley's, and flatbacks. Over 50% of green turtles found in Florida's Indian River are afflicted.

Did You Know?

Toxic metals may concentrate in the liver and kidneys of sea turtles. Toxins like mercury also pose a threat to human health. For more information about the seafood choices you make and mercury poisoning go to the Sea Turtle Restoration Project: Got Mercury? website.
Chronic exposure to pollutants makes sea turtles susceptible to disease and death. Chronically ill turtles are also more vulnerable to predation and collisions with boats.
PCB's, or polychlorinated biphenyl's, despite being banned from production in the U.S. in 1979, are still found in the environment, and in materials produced prior to the ban. Organisms that ingest these chemicals may suffer from depressed immune systems, illness, disease, and impaired reproduction. Researchers have found PCB's in sea turtle eggs.

What is SEE Turtles?

We're a non-profit project that connects travelers and volunteers with sea turtle conservation projects in places that most need the support. Visit our homepage to learn how you can participate.