What Can Be Done?
What's Been Done?
Despite all of the harm that has been done to us over the past few decades, there is still plenty of hope for our species. The federal government has put laws into place to reduce the impact of industries that affect our population. An example of this is that they require the fishing and shrimping industry to use TEDs in their nets so we have a chance to escape. Another law that has been put into place for endangered species overall is, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which “prohibits importing, exporting, taking, possessing, selling, and transporting endangered and threatened species” (Hodges, 2010). Further efforts have been made in partnership with the government of Mexico to protect the species as well. They have created a bi-national program to protect the species from poachers in hope that as our baby turtles are hatching they can have a safe venture to their new home of the ocean. You can’t always put your faith in your governments with an issue you care about so deeply, so it is important that people participate and recognize other communities that have formed to save our species. Many non-profit organizations have come together to ensure that on our hatching dates they are there guiding and protecting our baby turtles on their first steps of life and their venture to the water.
(National Park Service, n.d.)
Laws Put Into Place
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The Endangered Species Act protects us
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Florida Statutes (F.A.C. Rule 68E-1) restrict the take, possession, disturbance, mutilation, destruction, selling, transference, molestation, and harassment of marine turtles, nests or eggs.
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Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule
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Florida's Marine Turtle Protection Act (379.2431, Florida Statutes).
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Since 1989, all U.S. fishing trawlers working in areas populated by sea turtles are required by federal law to use turtle exclusion devices (TEDs) in their fishing nets. (Che-Castaldo et al., n.d.)
Zoos, Reserves, and Captive Breeding Programs
There are a few captive breeding programs for us. Unfortunately, these programs cannot be the only solution for each endangered species. They need way more amounts of each species to allow for adequate numbers and protection if some die off, then what’s currently being captively bred.
Cost Of Saving Species
The estimated total cost to save our species is $31,480,000 over 5 years, with an average cost of $6,221,000 per year. This is less than the average total cost to save an endangered species. Though critically endangered, we are a resilient turtle and would likely recover from our status once the plan is complete. We have recovered from the brink of extinction before and could do it again!
Recovery Plan
How You Can Help Me?
Personal Climate Action
​ Climate change and endangered species are scary things, but luckily there are things you as everyday people can do to help. You can take care of your garbage responsibly, by not littering, and try to reduce your waste in total. You can also take action with local climate green teams in helping protect the native species by removing invasive species. You can use responsible fishing practices when fishing recreationally. All of these things are great, but for the most part, it’s bigger companies and corporations that have the biggest impact. You can still make a difference by doing the things outlined above, but another way to potentially make an even bigger difference is by calling and emailing the contacts below to demand change from the government, and from businesses and corporations.
What You Can Do If You See Me
