Forging a future for Pacific Sea Turtles

Abstract

If current trends continue, leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles will probably go extinct in the Pacific in our lifetime. Eastern Racific hawksbills are likely past the point of no return, while green turtles and olive Ridleys are at a fraction of their former populations. The turtle decline is clear evidence that human activities are causing loss of biodiversity on our planet. If we choose to save Pacific sea turtles, we must confront the challenges of international industrial fishing, widespread small-scale fisheries, traditional harvesting of turtles, illegal poaching markets, and our irresponsible use of plastics. If we succeed, sea turtles will unite people from different cultures across the world in a shared vision for conservation on planet Earth.