Most turtle populations in the world are rebounding – even in the midst of climate change threats
Researchers said this week that most turtle populations are rebounding.
This promising news is even amidst the ongoing human threat to beloved marine reptiles, including climate change, habitat loss and fishing.
“Turtles are the light of ocean conservation and have recycling rates for many nesting populations,” Graeme Hays, professor of marine sciences and distinguished professor and chair of Deakin University in Australia, said in a statement.
Jacques-Olivier Laloë of Hays and Deakin and Jeffrey Seminoff, a researcher in the journal, reviewed the status of seven species of sea turtles in the world in a study published in the journal Nature Reviews Biodiversity.
Most turtle populations are rebounding, the researchers said. The news comes at a booming climate change threat (through Getty Images’ AFP).
The reason for the rebound is related to new conservation and conservation efforts, with more sea turtles nesting on the beaches that have stronger protections. Many fisheries have taken steps to avoid capturing animals and remove or reduce artificial lighting to confuse infant turtles trying to find the ocean.
“When I think of turtles, the first word that comes to mind is elasticity,” said research scientist Seminoff, who specializes in turtles at the NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fishery Science Center. “They are sensitive because they depend on the marine ecosystem, but give them a chance to thrive and they will take advantage of it.”
Seminoff also said that increasing number of sea turtles reflect changes in public mentality, with former poachers now placing tourists as part of ecotourism.
In the past, commercial hunting, entanglement in fishing nets, and losses in nesting beaches resulted in decline. The Endangered Species Act and other measures help protect the species more widely.
Green turtle populations are increasing. This is partly due to recent protections (by Getty Images AFP)
Data on population and nesting beaches show that four of the five regions are increasing in green turtles, NOAA said. This trend is the same for blackheaded turtles. In Cape Verde in the North Atlantic Ocean, annual Loggerheads rise from about 500 to 35,000.
The individual population of Hawksbill and Kemp’s Ridley, the fragile Olive Ridley and the inverted turtle also increased.
Leatherback turtles are the largest of all sea turtles and are identified as the most struggling turtle. They are the only species lacking scales and hard shells, swimming over 10,000 miles a year, and can find prey between nesting seasons.
Leatherback turtles struggle the most. They are the largest turtles (by Getty Images AFP)
Over time, researchers analyzed records of nearly 300 tortoise numbers. They found that “the massive increase in large populations has dropped by three times significantly than the significant decrease. In the compilation of updated compilations of additional time series released in 2024, the frequency of significant increase is six times the decrease.”
Although global assessments reveal “a universally encouraging situation” for species growth, researchers point out that climate change resilience remains a concern.
Climate change still poses a threat to many marine species. Increased ocean temperature can affect turtle reproduction (AFP via Getty image)
Increased temperatures in the ocean and beaches can lead to more female offspring, which may eventually interfere with reproduction. However, new evidence suggests that loggerheads are responding to these shifts, nesting in colder areas. Researchers say some beaches may also start nesting earlier this year.
“The most important thing is: when you stop hunting or damage species and restore ecological footing, they can become a prosperous part of the marine ecosystem again,” Senov said. “There will always be surprises, but now many turtles have greater resilience.”
