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Green Turtle

Unlike other sea turtles, the green turtle did not get its name from its skin or shell, but instead from the greenish hue of its fat!

 

The green turtle is the largest of the hard-shelled sea turtles and the second largest sea turtle species after the leatherback turtle. They can reach lengths of up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) long and weigh upwards of 135 kilograms (300 pounds).  

These sea turtles are also unique to other sea turtle species in that they are strict herbivores — mostly grazing on seagrasses and algae. Known to travel incredible distances throughout their life, green turtles use the earth’s magnetic field like an invisible map to guide them. In fact, these globetrotters can be found in the coastal waters of more than 140 countries!  

As adults, females will return to their native beaches to nest, coming ashore to lay about 100 eggs before returning to the sea. They may repeat this multiple times, sometimes laying nine clutches in one season, although the average is around three. While generally, this is the only time these sea turtles will come onshore, there is at least one population in Hawaii that includes individuals that are known to rest on the beaches during the day.  

 

 

After decades of global conservation work, green sea turtles are finally showing signs of recovery. They were listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List since the 1980s following decades of decline from threats like overexploitation for their fat, meat, and eggs and being accidentally caught in fishing gear.

Today, strong protections in many countries, including the United States, prohibit the killing of sea turtles and collection of their eggs. Thanks to these efforts, green turtles have been reclassified as Least Concern—a hopeful milestone. But the journey isn’t over — populations remain far below historic levels, and threats still persist. While harvesting of sea turtles and their eggs has declined, green turtles remain at risk from other stressors, including collisions with boats, loss of nesting beaches from coastal development, bycatch in fishing gear, and the impacts of climate change on nesting and feeding habitats. 

 

 

One of the most effective ways to protect sea turtles is by reducing their accidental capture in fishing gear. Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) are a proven solution, allowing turtles to escape from shrimp trawling nets with a success rate of about 97%. These devices are required in parts of Mexico and by many U.S. shrimp trawlers, helping safeguard critical habitat for species like the Atlantic green sea turtle.

Oceana works to expand protections like these worldwide — campaigning to stop destructive fishing practices, defend vital ocean habitats, curb plastic pollution, and fight the expansion of offshore drilling that threatens marine life and worsens the climate crisis. Learn more and get involved here. 

 

 

  1. Animal Diversity Web 
  2. IUCN Red List 
  3. NOAA 
  4. Turtles, Tourism, and Traffic—Keeping Hawaiʻi Honu Safe – NOAA 

 

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