ECOWATCH: The wellbeing of the oceans needs sea turtles
“Sea turtles play a vital role in nurturing the health of the oceans and have done so for 100 million years. As keystone species, sea turtles are critical for flourishing marine webs. Loggerheads, olive ridleys, leatherbacks and hawkbill consume prey like jellyfish and sea sponges, allowing coral and lower tropical fish to grow in abundance. Adult green turtles graze on seagrasses, acting like lawnmowers that promote growth.”
– International Fund for Animal Welfare
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].”
Our seas are now unhealthy, and they are sending warning signs that could not only affect ocean life but people. The Sarasota and Captiva Conservation Foundation has seen an increase in sick and dead sea turtles washing ashore as red tide becomes more persistent. According to Coastal Wildlife Director Kelley Sloan, the primary exposure to red tide toxins for sea turtles is the ingestion of toxic prey. Thousands of of sea turtles have died from the effects of red tide or ingesting plastics.
Just about anyone who lives in close proximity to the water has also suffered the effects of Sargassum, a genus of large brown seaweed (a type of algae) that floats in island-like masses and never attaches to the seafloor.
According to the NOAA , “brown algae are abundant in the ocean. Upon close inspection, it’s easy to see the many leafy appendages, branches and round, berry-like structures that make up the plant. These ‘berries’ are gas-filled structures, called pneumatocysts, which are filled mostly with oxygen.
“Pneumatocysts add buoyancy to the plant, allowing it to float on the surface. When Sargassum loses its buoyancy, it sinks to the seafloor, providing energy in the form of carbon to fishes and invertebrates in the deep sea, thus serving as a potentially important addition to deep-sea food web.”
However, while Sargassum occurs naturally, various forms of pollution have been causing it to grow more rapidly since 2011, when the mass was first large enough to be detected by satellite. Increasing amounts of nutrients are being flushed into the ocean that feeds the Sargassum seaweed.
When washed ashore, Sargassum will decompose, and the rotting Sargassum causes the production of hydrogen sulfide gas that smells like rotten eggs. This can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. It is recommended that you do not touch or walk on the Sargassum with bare feet, especially if you have open wounds.
What has caused the Sargassum to grow more rapidly? Reports have shown that much of the nitrogen and phosphorus comes from fertilizers used on residential lawns and in commercial agriculture. The chemicals do not create a red tide bloom, but scientists have proven they can “feed a fledgling bloom” and cause it to become stronger and last longer than it otherwise would.
A past article in EcoWatch told of lawmakers who want to temporarily block local fertilizer bans that forbid the use of fertilizers during the rainy season, June through September, stating that the bans were not necessary. This was done in spite of the fact that there have been studies by biologists proving that the massive use of fertilizers during the rainy season has helped spur the growth of algae blooms.
While the bill to stop the fertilizer ban sits on Governor Ron DeSantis’s desk, he has now asked for yet another study to see if the ban is necessary. The fertilizer industry has their fingers crossed, hoping to stop the ban, while many environmental groups have formed an alliance to keep the ban on the use of fertilizer during the rainy season.
Now, according to a news report on WPBF by Tara Jakeway, “During sea turtle nesting season, when and if the Sargassum seaweed blob returns to pile up on shore, it will threaten sea turtle nesting season. If the Sargassum seaweed buries turtle nests or blocks their trek to the water by hatchlings that managed to climb out of the nest, experts worry the hatchlings will then have to navigate the piles while dodging predators.”
Dr. Heather Barron, the chief scientist at Loggerhead Marine Life Center, rehabilitated a hatchling found stuck and struggling in Sargassum. “Out at sea, it’s a very natural and important part of their environment. However, on our beaches, it can certainly be an impediment,” she said.”
In 2022 The Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act was formulated, stating, “All known sea turtle species within the U.S. are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Sea turtles are facing a growing number of threats due to climate change and the proliferation of single-use plastics, as well as additional risks from ocean industrialization. These factors have led to an increase in strandings, where turtles are incapacitated in the water or on land and need intervention in order to survive. [This has] prompted the need for a robust federal sea turtle rescue and assistance program.”
Finally, lawmakers are concerned about the plight of sea turtles. And hopefully Governor DeSantis will nix the requests by the fertilizer industry and keep the ban on the use of fertilizers during the rainy season. Give him a call and ask him not to sign the bill blocking local fertilizer bans.
You will not only be helping sea turtles, but you will also help keep our oceans healthy for you and all sea life.
email: gaiasvigil@gmail.com
