Sea Turtle Poaching | 14 Sep 2022

Why in News?

According to a new study, more than 1.1 million sea turtles have been illegally killed and, in some cases, trafficked from 1990 to 2020.

• The sea turtle species that faced the most exploitation in the 30-year-period were Green (56%) and Hawksbill Sea Turtles (39%).

What are the Key Highlights of the Study?

• Marginal Decline in Poaching: There has been a decline of 28% in the poaching of marine creatures, with over 44,000 turtles targeted annually over the last decade.
• Exploitation: The reptiles faced exploitation in 65 countries/territories and 44 marine turtle regional management units (RMU) in the world despite various protection laws.
• Illegal Trade of Species: Southeast Asia and Madagascar were major hotspots for illegal sea turtle trade, particularly for the critically endangered Hawksbills.
  • Vietnam was the most common country of origin for illegal sea turtle trafficking, while China and Japan served as destinations for nearly all trafficked sea turtle products.
  • They are slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin, and shell and they also face habitat destruction and accidental capture or bycatch in fishing gear.
• Effects of Climate change: The Climate change has an impact on turtle nesting sites — it alters sand temperatures, which affects the sex of hatchlings.
  • Because incubation temperature of turtle eggs determines the animal’s sex, a warmer nest results in more females. Increasing temperatures in Queensland’s north, (Australia), linked to climate change, have led to virtually no male Green Sea turtles being born.
• Initiatives:
  • Global: In 2017, residents in eastern Indonesia’s Maluku Province harvested up to 75% of leatherback turtle eggs laid on one turtle nesting beach.
    • Education and community outreach done by organisations like the non-governmental organisation World Wide Fund has helped in reducing turtle egg harvesting by 10%.
  • Indian: There are plans to tag 30,000 Olive Ridley turtles in Odisha, it will help scientists study them and draft conservation plans.

What do We Need to Know about Sea Turtles?

• About:
  • Sea turtles are marine reptiles with streamlined bodies and large flippers that are well-adapted to life in the ocean.
  • The sea turtle family includes the Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Leatherback, Green and Olive ridley turtle.
  • These five species are found worldwide, mainly in tropical and subtropical waters.
  • Other than the five species, there are two more types of sea turtles that have restricted ranges.
    • Kemp’s Ridley is found mainly in the Gulf of Mexico and the Flatback Turtle around northern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea.
• Conservation Status:
  • The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Status:
    • Flatback Turtle: Data Deficient
    • Green Turtle: Endangered
    • Hawksbill Turtle: Critically Endangered
    • Kemp’s Ridley: Critically Endangered
    • Loggerhead Turtle: Vulnerable
    • Olive Ridley: Vulnerable
    • Leatherback Turtle: Vulnerable
  • The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) status:
    • All seven species of sea turtles are currently listed as Appendix- I under CITES.

Source: DTE