What threatens sea turtle survival?
• Natural Predation–Many predators such as crabs, ants, raccoons, and birds target turtle eggs and hatchlings. If they are lucky enough to reach adulthood, sea turtles are relatively immune to predation, except for the occasional shark attack. • Human Predation–Though most countries have laws against harvesting sea turtle eggs for food, the laws are not well enforced. Adult turtles are also harvested for meat, and their shells are made into jewelry and souvenirs. • Commercial Fishing–Entanglement in fishing nets is a major contributor to the death toll of juvenile and adult sea turtles. In the past, shrimping nets killed more than 50,000 turtles annually. Now, U.S. shrimpers are required to put Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) on their trawl nets. • Ingesting Plastic and other litter and debris–Thousands of sea turtles die each year from eating and becoming entangled in plastic bags and balloons floating in the water. While releasing helium balloons into the air is a common way to celebr
