National Turtle Day

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Maisie Drager, Junior Writer

As National Turtle Day approaches rapidly, it is important to think of all of aquatic life and its impact on the Earth. May 23 is meant to spread awareness of the human involvement in the destruction of marine life.

People continue to hunt sea turtles for their shells, eggs and even meat. They suffer from poaching and over-exploitation. Climate change has also had a large effect on sea turtle breeding as the rising water levels flood their egg laying sights, causing them to become endangered.

If sea turtles go extinct, it will cause declines in species whose survival depends on healthy seagrass beds and coral reefs. Sea turtles feed on coral and seagrass, keeping it in check and healthy. If they go away, it will overgrow and die off, then the marine life that depends on it will eventually die out as well.

 

There are many things that humans can do to help prevent the extinction of this vital part of the marine ecosystem:

  • Reduce amount of chemical and pesticides used
  • Drive less
  • Reduce carbon footprint
  • Recycle your waste products

These are just a few ways people can help reduce the amount of waste that goes into the environment everyday. These tips will not only help the sea turtles, but also all other types of wildlife.