ECOWATCH: The wellbeing of the oceans needs sea turtles

As a keystone species, these ancient mariners have a positive influence out of the water as well as in it. According to Oceana, a publication of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA ), “nesting sea turtles help beaches by depositing their eggs in the sand. Eggshells and unhatched eggs left behind provide important nutrients that nourish the dune vegetation such as beach grasses which stabilize dunes and help prevent coastal erosions.                                                                                                               “Major changes have occurred in the oceans because sea turtles have been virtually eliminated from many areas of the globe. Commercial fishing, loss of nesting habitat and climate change are among the human-caused threats pushing sea turtles toward extinction. As sea turtle populations decline, so does their ability to fulfill vital functions in ocean [habitats].”