| 1. Poaching: 35,000 turtles die in the hands of poachers annually in Baja California, between 8,000 and 9,000 die during the period between Lent and Easter. During this religious celebration period when individuals are not allowed to eat red meat, the turtle meat is traditionally consumed instead. Although sea turtles are reptiles - the oldest surviving reptiles in the world - and turtle meat IS red meat, many think of sea turtles as fish and therefore acceptable for consumption during Semana Santa. The principle markets for sea turtle meat include: Oaxaca, Mexico City, Sonora, Michoacán, Baja California, Baja California Sur, and the states of California and Arizona.
2. Incidental Capture or Bycatch: Young sea turtles migrate from as far as Hawaii and Japan to feed and grow in the unusually rich waters of the Baja California peninsula. The unparalleled richness of these waters also draws intense fishing pressure. Unfortunately, where sea turtles and fishing overlap, sea turtles are accidentally caught and killed. Turtles are caught on hooks or entangled in nets and subsequently drown. This incidental capture, or bycatch, of juveniles, along with poaching, has caused severe depletion of turtles in Baja California coastal waters and jeopardizes their persistence. (The Grupo Tortuguero is empowering fishermen to develop bycatch solutions).
3. Collection of Eggs for Consumption: Although it is also illegal to remove sea turtle eggs from a nest, it is a very common practice. Many individuals consume sea turtle eggs because they are believed to be an aphrodisiac. Out of one nest that contains 100 eggs, only one to five hatched baby sea turtles survive to maturity. The practice of eating sea turtle eggs is diminishing even these odds, and destroying whole populations of turtles.
4. Coastal Development: Modification and the loss of coastal habitat that previously served as nesting areas is another threat to sea turtles. The lights from buildings along the coast can disorient the turtles that come to shore to lay their eggs, and many historical nesting sites have been destroyed completely. Sea turtles often return to the beach on which they were born to lay their eggs. If there is no longer a beach, or the beach is too developed to access, the turtle may not have the opportunity lay her eggs.
5. Ocean Pollution: Sea turtles can choke to death when they accidentally consume plastic bags and other types of trash. The turtles often mistake the bags and trash for jelly fish, a normal part of the diets of various sea turtle species. Additionally, other contaminants and chemicals that enter the ocean from our coasts and ships affect the health of turtles.
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