Why is a raven like a writing desk, and a sea turtle like an umbrella?

The importance of sea turtle conservation and 10 things you can do to help

To the Mad Hatter’s dismay, I cannot say with certainty why a raven is like a writing desk (please do enlighten me if you can). But I can tell you how a sea turtle is like an umbrella.

A few weeks ago, I was sat in a humid shack right next to Tortuguero Beach, the second largest turtle nesting colony in the world. An extremely passionate biologist from Costa Rica’s Sea Turtle Conservancy shared with a group of eco-tourists why he has dedicated his whole life to turtles.

The Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Only reachable by boat and adjacent to the village of Tortuguero which stretches only 1km long.

Sea turtles are umbrella species, meaning that by protecting them, we can protect other species that share the same habitat, like jaguars. Jaguars are opportunistic predators, meaning they hunt what is available, from deer to capybara, and from iguanas to monkeys. However, humans have affected the availability and distribution of jaguar prey through illegal hunting, deforestation and climate change¹ . With declining prey availability, jaguars have turned to sea turtles. Although this might sound concerning, research has found that jaguar predation is not a significant threat to green sea turtle populations. Since the number of green sea turtles are increasing, the rise in predation doesn’t threaten the species on the whole and jaguars have another option as other sources of prey become more unreliable.

This would not have been the case if there hadn’t been a significant effort to conserve sea turtles over the last 50 years. During the mid 1900’s, turtles were harvested for meat and eggs and their shells for use in jewellery, glasses frames, combs and other hair accessories. This caused their numbers to plummet and contributed to the endangered status of several species including green and hawksbill.

However, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITIES), prohibited such trade in 1975. Instead of being seen as a commodity, they are now respected for their crucial role in ecosystems. The Tortuguero Beach green sea turtle population in Costa Rica has increased by a whopping 61% since 1986.

Tortuguero Beach, June 2024. The biggest turtle nesting colony with 100,000 turtles every year. Green, leatherback, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles all nest here but green are the most common visitors.

Walking along this empty beach it was hard to imagine it being filled with thousands of tiny flippers hurtling their tiny shells towards the water. But it must be wonderful.

Green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas.

Unfortunately, I visited Costa Rica too early to witness the breeding so my camera is void of any sea turtle pictures and I’ve resorted to borrowing this one from the Tortuguero National Park website. But I’m sure one day I’ll find myself back in the rainforest. When I do, you’ll be the first to see those pictures. As for jaguars, even guides from both Guyana and Costa Rica who spend their lifetime in the rainforest have told me they’ve only caught a glimpse of jaguars or twice in their lives. So wish me luck getting any shots of them.

Why should you care about turtle conservation?

I think this is reasonable to ask if you don’t consider yourself an environmentalist (although I can’t help but feel that everyone should be given the state of the world). But I know when this kind of wildlife isn’t on your doorstep it might be hard to empathise. After all, how does the fate of turtle and jaguars tangibly affect your life?

Well, their role in the ecosystem has a trickle-down effect. In fact, it trickles so far down that it could technically affect what ends up on your dinner plate. Turtles’ diet includes jellyfish. So, if turtles were to vanish, this could lead to more frequent and larger jellyfish blooms. Jellyfish eat zooplankton, fish larvae and fish eggs. Larger jellyfish may even eat juvenile fish. So not only do jellyfish consume key food sources for many fish species, but also key sources of food for many of us! So the decline of turtles can lead to declines in commercially and recreationally important fish species, impacting fisheries.

Although green sea turtles are steadily recovering, there’s still a long way to go for them as well as other species² that are threatened by harmful fishing practices, marine pollution and climate change.

What can you do?

1. Support: Conservation Organizations (like the STC) through donations or volunteering

2. Reduce: single use plastics that could end up entangling or being ingested by turtles and recycle properly

3. Advocate: for and support laws and regulations that protect sea turtles and their habitats. This can include measures to protect nesting sites and limit coastal development.

4. Be a responsible tourist: Select tour operators that follow guidelines for responsible wildlife viewing, especially those that respect nesting sites and do not disturb turtles!

5. Be a responsible consumer: Choose seafood from sources that use turtle-friendly practices. Do your research on which brands and products have sustainable fishing practices (although I’ve heard this is often harder than it sounds as labels can be misleading so please comment your thoughts on this)

6. Respect wildlife: When visiting areas where sea turtles are present, follow guidelines to avoid disturbing them. This includes not touching or getting too close to turtles, especially during nesting or hatching periods.

7. Join citizen science projects: Participate in citizen science initiatives that involve monitoring sea turtle populations, nesting sites, or environmental conditions. These projects often rely on public involvement to gather valuable data.

8. Report bycatch: If you encounter a sea turtle caught in fishing gear, report it to local authorities or marine conservation groups for rescue and rehabilitation.

9. Learn about sea turtles: Educate yourself about sea turtle species, their habitats, and the challenges they face. Understanding their needs and threats can help you become a more effective advocate.

10. Raise awareness: Educate others about the importance of sea turtles and the threats they face. Use social media and community events to spread awareness and promote conservation efforts

I think turtles are pretty cool, I hope you do too.

1. What’s more, jaguars are a protected species across most of Central and South America, but poachers still hunt and kill them for their coats which are sold on the black market. The accumulation of these pressures within the last 15 years has reduced their numbers by 20% and their typical range to 50% of what it once was.

2. Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii))