Seven Ways to Help Sea Turtles

Editor’s Note: On April 22, the world celebrates Earth Day. At the Sea Turtle Preservation Society, we make each day Earth Day. Please join our efforts to make a difference.

You don’t have to live near the beach to be part of the sea turtle conservation effort. It’s easy to do simple things in your everyday life to help sea turtles survive. With Earth Day just around the corner, now seems like the perfect time to share some ideas with you.

Choose reusable water bottles and shopping bags

Just say no to plastic. More than 100 million marine animals are estimated to die each year from eating or getting entangled in plastic. Consider alternatives to single-use plastic items.

Keep waterways clean

A healthy ocean is vital to the survival of humans as well as sea turtles. Limiting fertilizer and pesticide use on lawns, washing cars at a car wash, and allowing only rain to enter storm drains maintains local waterways that eventually drain to the ocean.

Recycle discarded fishing line

Recycle or properly dispose of monofilament fishing line and other fishing gear to avoid entanglements.

Purchase sustainable seafood

Before making a purchase, ask where and how seafood was caught, and choose seafood caught in ways that do not harm or kill turtles. Check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch for turtle friendly seafood choices.

Walk or bike more to use less oil and gas.

Reduce your carbon footprint. Climate change threatens the health of coral reefs, affects sex ratios in baby turtles, and increases erosion on nesting beaches.

Support sea turtle conservation by getting involved

Join a sea turtle conservation organization, and back actions that protect sea turtles. For the past 35 years, the Sea Turtle Preservation Society has been protecting sea turtles and their habitat in Brevard County, FL. Find out how to become a member on our website, seaturtlespacecoast.org

Share what you know with others

By talking with others, you can raise awareness about sea turtles and the threats that they and their habitats face today.