Conservation of the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
Help for the Critically Endangered Lepidochelys kempii
Jun 11, 2009
The critically endangered Kemp's Ridley requires human intervention in order to survive. Though conservation measures have brought the Kemp's Ridley back from the very brink of extinction, these small sea turtles still face many dangers. Unfortunately, human activity in the ocean and on beaches are the primary reason for the Kemp Ridley's endangered status.
Dangers During Nesting
Kemp's Ridleys nest primarily in one location: a twenty mile stretch of beach along the Gulf of Mexico known as Rancho Neuvo in Tamaulipas. Kemp's Ridleys, unlike most sea turtles, frequently lay their eggs en masse during the day, and the eggs often hatch in daytime as well. This leaves the nesting turtles, the eggs, and the hatchlings vulnerable to predation. In the past, villagers in Tamaulipas called the mass nestings "arribada," and would easily harvest the turtles and the eggs, nearly wiping out entire generations.
In 1979, Rancho Nuevo was decimated by an oil spill which further caused Kemp's Ridley numbers to drop. In 1947, the estimated number of nesting females was 40,000, which dropped to an alarming 200 by the mid 1980s. These days, the beach is protected during nesting season by armed military. All nests are relocated into fenced-in corrals as a measure to protect against predators and poachers. However, there is concern that this practice may cause movement-induced mortality, spread contagious disease, and leave the eggs vulnerable to storms and other natural disasters.
In recent years, smaller nesting sites have purposefully been established in Texas at Padre Island. Eggs were brought from Rancho Neuvo to the Texas Islands to hatch with the idea that sea turtles return to where they were born to nest. So far, the program has met with minimal results. Of the 33, 743 hatchlings released on Padre Island between 1996 and 2008, 443 returned to nest. A few additional nests have been reported at nearby Mustang Island.
Dangers from Shrimp Trawlers
Shrimpers in the Gulf of Mexico hunting for "pink gold" inadvertently catch sea turtles and dolphins in their nets. All too frequently, the animals in the nets are unable to surface for oxygen, and they drown. Shrimp trawling in general is probably the single most environmentally destructive practice of the commercial fishing industry, as giant nets scoop up every living creature in their paths, destroying the habitat as they go. However, in recent years, many sea turtles and dolphins have been spared by the mandatory addition of "Turtle Excluder Devices," or "TEDs" to trawler's nets. The TED is simply a mental sphere with grids that is attached to the net's opening, creating an escape hatch for larger animals. In 1987, the United States implemented regulations that require all U.S. shrimpers to use TEDs on their trawlers. In 1989, the United States went one step further and passed a law known as the “shrimp-turtle law,” requiring that all countries that export shrimp to U.S. markets also use TEDs.
Litter and Pollution
Discarded fishing line is responsible for many turtle injuries and deaths when the line becomes tangled around a sea turtle's flippers or neck. Litter such as plastic bags or bottles are often mistaken for jellyfish or squid and eaten by the turtle, causing deadly blockages in the reptile's stomach. Poor water quality due to run-off from sewers, oil spills, or other contamination can cause illness and disease in sea turtles. Keeping our oceans clean and litter-free is imperative in order for Kemp's Ridleys to thrive again.
Related Article: If You've Found a Sea Turtle in Distress
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