The Perils of the Journey
Leatherback turtles face numerous dangers as they travel between their foraging grounds and nesting beaches.These threats include unintentional capture by fisheries, the harvesting of adult turtles and eggs, plastic pollution, habitat loss on nesting beaches, climate change, and vessel strikes.
One of the biggest threats to leatherback turtles globally is commercial fishing. While most turtles caught in New Zealand waters are released alive, it is indeed crucial that we find ways to reduce bycatch numbers in order to better protect these creatures. The journey across international boundaries is a treacherous one for these turtles, with their population declining by over 80% in the last four decades. This highlights the importance of international collaboration in researching and conserving this species.
Working Together for Conservation
We are blessed to be collaborating with scientists who have been studying leatherbacks for many years. By working together to study their habitat use in New Zealand waters,we hope to gain a better understanding of their migration patterns. According to Dr George Shillinger, Executive Director of Upwell Turtles, leatherbacks are among the most highly migratory and transboundary marine species on Earth.
“Effective conservation efforts require international collaboration, from nesting beaches to distant foraging habitats,” says Dr shillinger.
This is amazing news! Can’t wait to hear more about the groundbreaking research findings.