Conservation Status

There are a number of problems and dangers that are affecting the conservation status of the Black Sea Turtle (Chelonia agassizii), which is also called the Eastern Pacific green turtle. Assessment of population trends, identification of critical threats, and implementation of effective conservation actions to limit risks and encourage recovery are all necessary to understand its conservation status.

Because of its precarious situation and the critical need for immediate conservation measures, the Black Sea Turtle has been classified as Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The species has been designated as threatened due to reasons like as declining populations and the destruction of its habitat, which represent serious threats to their long-term existence. There are a number of factors that are causing Black Sea Turtle populations to decrease. These include overexploitation of eggs, hunting for flesh and shells, and unintentional catch in fishing gear.

Degradation and loss of nesting beaches, feeding grounds, and marine environments pose a significant threat to Black Sea Turtles' ability to survive as a species. Major causes of habitat loss and degradation include coastal development, pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change. These factors endanger nesting sites and disturb vital feeding habitats.

Turtle populations are already under a lot of pressure from things like coastal erosion, changing ocean temperatures and acidity, and rising sea levels.

Despite legislative safeguards and conservation initiatives, Black Sea Turtles are still gravely threatened by the illicit traffic in turtle items such as eggs, meat, and shells. Poaching eggs for human consumption or the illegal market is still common in many parts of the world, further straining communities who are already struggling. A combination of community involvement, public awareness initiatives aimed at reducing demand for turtle goods, and the enforcement of current regulations is necessary to combat this illicit activity.

Worldwide, Black Sea Turtles face a serious danger from bycatch in fishing gear, especially in industrial and artisanal fisheries. Tragically, turtles are vulnerable to harm, drowning, and death when they become caught in fishing gear such as nets, traps, and longlines. Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in trawl nets and circle hooks in longline fisheries are crucial bycatch reduction strategies that minimize unintentional capture and killing of turtles.

Additional threats to Black Sea Turtle habitats are being brought to light by climate change.

The success of turtle nesting, ocean currents, and food availability are all susceptible to changes brought about by increasing temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and more frequent severe weather events. The world must work together to curb emissions of greenhouse gases, protect natural habitats, and strengthen ecosystems that are particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change if we are to lessen their severity.

Governments, NGOs, academic institutions, and community groups all across the globe are working together on conservation efforts to save Black Sea Turtles and the environments they call home. Projects to restore habitat, programs to monitor nesting beaches, marine protected areas, and community-based conservation activities are all part of these efforts. For Black Sea Turtle conservation efforts to be successful, it is crucial to include stakeholders, increase public awareness, and support sustainable livelihoods.