The Endangered Species Act & Sea Turtles
Biologists recognize seven species of sea turtles, including six that inhabit U.S. waters. These turtles live in the ocean except when the females come ashore to lay their eggs.
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Endangered Species
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Each of the seven species of sea turtles is protected through the Endangered Species Act of 1973, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The act provides for federal protection of threatened and endangered species and their habitats.
Protection
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NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are responsible for managing the protection of sea turtles in the United States.
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Habitat Threats
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Sea turtles encounter threats to their habitat both at sea and on land where they nest. Pollution, marinas and docks, beachfront development, sand replacement, sand mining and artificial lighting all cause problems for sea turtles.
Floating Threats
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Some of the major threats that sea turtles face are related to human activity at sea. These include being struck by boats, being caught by fishermen accidentally and becoming trapped in debris or eating pieces of debris.
International Collaboration
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The United States works with other countries to protect sea turtles through two international agreements. One focuses on the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. The other targets the Americas and the Caribbean.
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References
- Photo Credit sea turtle image by Cory Surdam from Fotolia.com
