Human Impacts on Sea Turtle Survival

This chapter explores a full consideration of all human activities that adversely impact sea turtles and required conservation measures. It reviews more compelling effects that will give an indication of the extent of the challenges sea turtles face and the efforts required to protect them. The translocation of nests into hatcheries is probably the most common sea turtle conservation technique undertaken when beach operations threaten sea turtles. These efforts are usually practiced where serious threats to embryos or hatchlings are thought to exist. Beach armoring consists of hardened structures meant to protect dune property from erosion. This includes vertical or inclined concrete sea walls, wooden walls, rock revetments, and sandbag/sandtube structures. Beach nourishment involves mechanically dumping or pumping sand onto an eroded beach. In sand mining operations, large quantities of sand are dug from beaches to be used as fill, in production of concrete, and for other construction activities.