Sea turtles need help. They are becoming more and more endangered as time goes on and is something that needs to be changed. There are seven species of sea turtle and they are all either endangered or critically endangered. Millions of sea turtles used to inhabit the sea. Now, only a fraction of them are still around. Humans are one of the causes of this because of hunting for profit and killing them by our activities. Our oceans need sea turtles. Sea turtles need protection. How do we help and save them?

Worldwide, six of the seven sea turtle species are classified as threatened or endangered due to human actions and lifestyles. Bonaire is the home to three of the world’s six endangered or critically endangered species of marine turtles: the hawksbill, green, and loggerhead turtle. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has identified five major hazards to sea turtles: Climate Change, Pollution, Coastal Development, Fisheries and Direct take.

For this petition the philosophical view is environmental justice that states that all must be treat well and equally no matter who and what they are. Animals deserves to live, humans should know their worth. Humans should treat animals equally no matter what happen. Turtles are sea creatures that we must keep safe. They deserve to be treated the way humans treated each other, just how we humans treat our own environment our habitat mother land. Increasing number of dying turtles are increasing, we must act now and fight for justice. Fight for those animals who has been abused by humans. People who abused animals must face consequences, that’s how justice works.

What would happen if turtles go extinct?

Turtles as well play a big part in the eco-system of marine animals just like any other living animals. But what would happen if they go extinct due to pollution and man made calamities that human does? According to Lim Puay Aun (2009) seagrasses would eventually die if turtles were to extinct. Turtles actually maintain the ecosystem’s seagrass beds and coral reefs which is a known habitat for some marine animals. According to Jaymi Heimbuch (2011) there are about 4,600 turtles that dies every year, some are found wrapped in plastics and straws and other waste materials that gets thrown in water. As turtles go extinct, there would be fewer of their eggs deposited which would lesser the vegetation and may cause beach erosion.

Today, almost all species of sea turtles are already endangered as the consequence of climate change, habitat destruction, poaching, and accidental entanglement due to water pollution. According to Kelly Thorvalson from South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program, the major threats to sea turtles have been commercial fisheries and habitat destruction along the coast, but over the past few years, other threats are becoming more of an issue.

If you love sea turtles as much as we do, why not take some small and simple steps to protect them?

1.     REDUCE PLASTIC USAGE

- Sea Turtles can’t tell the difference between a plastic bag and a jellyfish, one of their favorite foods. As a result, they end up eating these and cause blockages within their digestive system and eventually die. “Every Plastic piece that you don’t buy, is one less piece of plastic that can end up in the ocean.”

2.     USE ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES

- Instead of using plastic bags, why not use reusable shopping bag instead? Rather than using plastic straws, we should opt to make use of other alternatives like edible straws made up of rice and tapioca.

3.     RECYCLE

- Even though plastic can cause harmful effects, it is still a beneficial resource. Rather than throwing it away, why not recycle it to create new products? That way, we can help reduce plastic wastes in the ocean and can discourage the production of more.

4.     VOLUNTEER!

- As the caretaker of our planet, we should not hesitate to volunteer on beach and ocean cleanups. Or maybe, as we walk around the beach, pick up small trashes you can see.

Through these simple acts, we can already help protect these stunning creatures.

Sea turtles serve a large contribution to the beautification of the marine life. They make sure that coral reefs serve as a healthy habitat for other marine animals. Therefore, if they are safe, other marine animals would also be safe. If we help save sea turtles through keeping the cleanliness of the ocean, it will also mean that we would help save our mother Earth.

Turtles are majestic creatures that play a big part in the eco-system of marine animals just like any other living animals. If they were to be extinct seagrasses would eventually die, turtles actually maintain the ecosystem’s seagrass beds and coral reefs which is a known habitat for some marine animals. There are about 4,600 turtles that dies every year, some are victims of pollution, climate change and some are hunted for income. As turtles go extinct, there would be fewer of their eggs deposited which would lesser the vegetation and may cause beach erosion. To start protecting them we must start on our own and reduce our plastic usage to prevent them farm harming these creatures. These plastics are always replaceable with alternatives that are better to use because it’s eco friendly. We also would want to continue on doing recycling to make usage of those plastics, instead of them being a nuisance to the world. Lastly we should volunteer in order to take care not only these turtles but also the world we are living in. If these creatures are safe it would not only benefit them but as well as the other marine life as turtles plays a role on the beautification of marine life. With all of this, our movement would want to stop the further loss of the turtle’s population. These turtles are not just any kind of animal, since they play a really important role. The more that these creatures will die, the more change might happen and the things that we are used to might change. To start a move now could end these horrifying outcomes and we can make it a world for the turtles to repopulate in the world. A life of a turtle is important, and even if it is behind its hard shell it still cant hide itself from the dangers of the world. We humans as the capable must help them move out of their shell safe and sound living in the wide ocean.

 

Sources:

Why_Healthy_Oceans_Need_Sea_Turtles.pdf

https://oceana.org/sites/default/files/reports/

What happens to the environment if turtles became extinct? | https://www.turtleconservationsociety.org.my (2009, October 26). Retrieved October 16, 2019, from https://www.turtleconservationsociety.org.my/what-happens-to-the-environment-if-turtles-became-extinct/

4,600 Sea Turtles Killed In US Fisheries Every Year -- But That’s Good News. (2018, October 11). Retrieved October 16, 2019, from https://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/4600-sea-turtles-killed-in-us-fisheries-every-year-but-thats-good-news.html

How can I help save Sea Turtles from Plastic Pollution? (2019, March 26). Retrieved October 16, 2019, from https://www.projects-abroad.org/blog/how-we-can-help-save-sea-turtles/

11 Ways You Can Protect Endangered Sea Turtles Without Stepping Foot in the Ocean. (2017, April 12). Retrieved October 16, 2019, from http://ecosalon.com/11-super-simple-tips-for-protecting-endangered-sea-turtles-from-land/