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Marine turtles
Survivor of 120 million years
For millions of years marine turtles performed a vital and integral role in our planet's marine and coastal ecosystems. Yet, six out of seven marine turtle species are threatened with extinction today.
Over the last centuries human activities have tipped the scales against the survival of these ancient mariners. Urgent global action is now needed to ensure their future.
Addressing illegal trade and other threats
Climate change, accidental capture in fishing gear, ocean plastic and other pollution are just a few among many threats faced by marine turtles. Among the most critical are unsustainable take and the illegal trade of turtles for their meat, eggs and shells. To stop their populations from being decimated, we must dismantle the illicit trade.
Protecting important habitats
From reefs to seagrass meadows to the open sea, marine turtles inhabit diverse habitats in the ocean. Protecting these places allows turtles to thrive, but also thousands of other species - including humans - who rely on the healthy functioning of these ecosystems.
Addressing illegal trade and other threats
Climate change, accidental capture in fishing gear, ocean plastic and other pollution are just a few among many threats faced by marine turtles. Among the most critical are unsustainable take and the illegal trade of turtles for their meat, eggs and shells. To stop their populations from being decimated, we must dismantle the illicit trade.
Protecting important habitats
From reefs to seagrass meadows to the open sea, marine turtles inhabit diverse habitats in the ocean. Protecting these places allows turtles to thrive, but also thousands of other species - including humans - who rely on the healthy functioning of these ecosystems.
1 in 1000
It is estimated that only one in 1,000 hatchlings make it to adulthood.
© iStockphoto.com / Laselle
World’s first traceability toolkit & global database of marine turtle DNA
Introducing ShellBank
One of the greatest challenges to tackling illegal turtle trade and take of is that we could not identify which populations were being targeted, or where they were being poached. Together with partners, WWF kickstarted ShellBank to fill this critical gap.
Learn MoreBecause turtles migrate across the oceans, studying them is no easy feat. But one clue has helped scientists trace turtles back to their birth place: their DNA. Containing mitochondrial DNA, passed down from mothers to their offspring, each turtle carries a distinct genetic signature similar to those coming from the same nesting population and region. The only way to pinpoint this origin is by having a reference database from which genetic samples can be compared.
ShellBank does exactly that. Established in 2018 and piloted in Australia in 2019, this transnational platform uses DNA and forensic analysis to form a comprehensive dataset which maps out populations and places where marine turtles nest and roam, as well as where they’re sold and likely poached.
ShellBank does exactly that. Established in 2018 and piloted in Australia in 2019, this transnational platform uses DNA and forensic analysis to form a comprehensive dataset which maps out populations and places where marine turtles nest and roam, as well as where they’re sold and likely poached.
© © Antonio Busiello / WWF-US
Stories about sea turtles
Tracing the way home with dna
Because turtles migrate across the oceans, studying them is no easy feat. But one clue has helped scientists trace turtles back to their birth place: their DNA. Containing mitochondrial DNA, passed down from mothers to their offspring, each turtle carries a distinct genetic signature similar to those coming from the same nesting population and region.
Read the StoryLATEST TURTLE NEWS
Key Facts
Common name
Common Name
Marine turtles; Tortues marines (Fr); Tortugas marinas (Sp)
Geographic place
Habitat
Open water and coasts
Latin name
Scientific Name
Cheloniidae / Dermochelyidae families
Endangered
Status
Vulnerable to Critically Endangered
Habitat and ecology
Most marine turtle species spend much of their lives in continental shelf waters. Males do not leave the sea and females only come ashore to lay their eggs on sandy beaches during the appropriate season. During the nesting season, mature males and females migrate from feeding grounds and mate near the nesting beach.
Life Cycle
Once the hatchlings exit their nest and reach the sea, a swimming frenzy ensues to reach open ocean zones where currents meet, and where the small turtles find food and refuge from their many predators. Only once marine turtles become adults do they return to the beach area where they were born to lay their own eggs.
Decades to reach maturity
The long time to reach maturity and the many natural dangers faced by hatchlings and juveniles mean that as few as 1 in 1,000 eggs will survive to adulthood.
Current Population and Distribution
5 of the 7 species are found around the globe (mainly in tropical and subtropical waters) while 2 species have relatively restricted ranges: Kemp's ridley occurs mainly in the Gulf of Mexico and the flatback turtle around northern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea.
Life Cycle
Once the hatchlings exit their nest and reach the sea, a swimming frenzy ensues to reach open ocean zones where currents meet, and where the small turtles find food and refuge from their many predators. Only once marine turtles become adults do they return to the beach area where they were born to lay their own eggs.
Decades to reach maturity
The long time to reach maturity and the many natural dangers faced by hatchlings and juveniles mean that as few as 1 in 1,000 eggs will survive to adulthood.
Current Population and Distribution
5 of the 7 species are found around the globe (mainly in tropical and subtropical waters) while 2 species have relatively restricted ranges: Kemp's ridley occurs mainly in the Gulf of Mexico and the flatback turtle around northern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea.
Status of marine turtle species
Based on IUCN Red List
• Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) - VU
• Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) - VU
• Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) - VU
• Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) - EN
• Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) - CR
• Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) - CR
• Flatback turtle (Natator depressus) - DD
VU = Vulnerable
EN = Endangered
CR = Critically Endangered
DD = Data Deficient
Learn more: IUCN Red List
EN = Endangered
CR = Critically Endangered
DD = Data Deficient
Learn more: IUCN Red List
Why are marine species important?
Marine turtles fulfil important roles in marine ecosystems. Expressed in value, marine turtles are also worth more than dead turtles. In recent years, for example, marine turtles have become increasingly important as an ecotourism attraction.
A WWF study from 2021 looked into the value of turtles for people in the Asia-Pacific, which estimates that households in Asia-Pacific would be on average willing to pay US$80 per year to help maintain healthy populations and habitats of sea turtles in the wild.
What is WWF doing?
The objectives of WWF's Global Marine Turtle Programme are to reduce:
To reach these objectives, WWF is working around the world to conserve marine turtles by:
- the loss and degradation of critical marine turtle habitats;
- the negative impact of bycatch on marine turtles;
- unsustainable use and illegal trade in marine turtles and turtle products.
To reach these objectives, WWF is working around the world to conserve marine turtles by:
- Establishing and strengthening protected areas around nesting beaches
- Raising awareness and promoting ecotourism at marine turtle sites, so that local communities become involved in and benefit from protecting turtles and their nests
- Promoting regional and international agreements to conserve marine turtles.
- Lobbying for turtle-friendly fishing practices, such as the use of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in nets.
- Halting the illegal trade of turtle meat and eggs, though TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring arm of WWF and IUCN.
Circle hooks surround a traditional "J" hook, at centre bottom. The use of large circle hooks and turtle de-hooking devices are proving to be successful in experiments designed to reduce turtle bycatch in longline fishing gear.
How you can help
Don't buy products which have been made from sea turtle parts. Guitars, ashtrays, jewellry and other products made from sea turtles are sold to tourists around the world.
Help Build ShellBank
Calling researchers, conservationists, policy makers and law enforcers, and all who are passionate about protecting marine turtles. To date, genetic data gaps still remain. To expand globally, it will require significant contributions to help build the global database. Find out more: shellbankproject.org