WHY DO SEA TURTLES STRAND?

Typically, stranding events are the result of storms where the sea turtles get swept up and dragged away from their normal course by fierce currents. With our increasingly volatile climate it’s likely that these storms will heighten in both frequency and intensity, leading to more stranding events. As our climate and oceans warm too, currents may change contributing to changing ranges of these species too.

Along with leatherback turtles, the UK Overseas Territories such as the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos are also home to breeding groups of other sea turtle species. Ascension Island in the South Atlantic hosts an important aggregation of green turtles (Chelonia mydas), whereas the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean is a vital nesting ground for hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata). Whilst not immediately on our doorstep, the UK is responsible for the conservation of a wealth of vital sea turtle breeding grounds, feeding grounds and migration routes. By protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 we can ensure these marine reptiles have the defences in place that they need to recover.

regions of the world. Despite global protections in place to protect select species, the worldwide trade and harvesting continues.

But undoubtedly the biggest killer of sea turtles is the fishing industry. Across the world each year hundreds of thousands of sea turtles are accidentally caught in trawl nets, on longline hooks and in gillnets. As they need to reach the surface to breathe, many drown once caught as the fishing gear is not retrieve for long periods of time. This accidental capture is known as ‘bycatch’, and tragically sea turtles are not the only species that fall victim to it every day –millions of seabirds, dolphins and sharks, to name a few, are also unintentionally captured in this way every year.

Lots of attention is focused on lessening the impacts of climate change, habitat degradation and plastic pollution on sea turtles, with relatively limited effort put into reducing mortality caused by bycatch. All is not lost though, as technology is being developed and researched to decrease the risks of sea turtles becoming bycatch and allowing them to swim free. Simple solutions like using circle-shaped hooks over the traditional j-shaped hook can significantly reduce the amount of turtle bycatch in longline fisheries, for example.

Saving Sea Turtles

LED Lights on Nets

Turtles rely on visual cues when foraging for food. By using this intel researchers have developed a way of illuminating fishing nets with solar-powered LED lights to deter turtles and other species from investigating the net and becoming entangled. Research suggests this has reduced overall bycatch by between 60% and 95%, without having an impact on the target species. Fishers are often reluctant to cut bycatch free from their gear as it costs them both time and money, but this method is cost-effective and ensures fishers can get their catch of the day too.

Turtle Excluder Device (TED)

Shrimp fishing is one of the deadliest threats to the global sea turtle population; but a simple invention installed into shrimp trawlers could go a long way to reduce turtle bycatch in the sector. A Turtle Excluder Device (TED) is a metal grid within the neck of a net trawl that acts as a filter. As the shrimp pass through and into the trawl net, turtles and other animals hit the grid and escape through a flap in the net. Research shows that this method can reduce bycatch by as much as 91% proving that simple solutions can make a huge difference.

Marine Reptiles on the Edge