Sea Turtle Conservation: What Kids Can Do

Sea Turtle Conservation: What Kids Can Do

Sea turtles are among the oldest creatures on Earth. They've been swimming through our oceans for thousands of years — surviving the extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs. Yet today, all seven species of sea turtle are either vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. The good news? Kids can genuinely help. Here's what you need to know.

Amazing Sea Turtle Facts

• Sea turtles can live for 80–100 years — some may live even longer.
• They navigate using the Earth's magnetic field, returning to the exact beach where they were born to lay their own eggs.
• A female sea turtle can lay 100–125 eggs in a single nest, and may nest several times in one season.
• Sea turtle eggs incubate in the sand for about 60 days before hatching.
• The temperature of the sand determines the sex of the hatchlings — warmer sand produces more females.
• Leatherback sea turtles are the largest, reaching up to 2 metres long and weighing over 900 kg.
• Sea turtles can hold their breath for up to 7 hours while resting.

Why Are Sea Turtles Important?

Sea turtles play a vital role in ocean ecosystems:

• Green sea turtles graze on seagrass, keeping it short and healthy. Healthy seagrass beds support hundreds of other species.
• Leatherback turtles eat jellyfish, helping control jellyfish populations that would otherwise explode.
• Hawksbill turtles eat sponges on coral reefs, preventing sponges from overgrowing and smothering the coral.
• Sea turtle nests provide nutrients to beach ecosystems when unhatched eggs decompose.

Without sea turtles, our oceans and beaches would look very different — and not for the better.

What Threatens Sea Turtles?

• Plastic pollution: Turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and eat them, which can be fatal.
• Fishing bycatch: Turtles accidentally get caught in fishing nets and lines.
• Habitat loss: Beach development destroys nesting sites.
• Climate change: Rising sand temperatures are producing almost entirely female hatchlings in some populations, threatening future breeding.
• Poaching: Turtles and their eggs are still illegally harvested in some parts of the world.

What Can Kids Do to Help Sea Turtles?

This is where it gets exciting — because kids can make a real difference:

• Reduce plastic use: Say no to single-use plastic bags, straws, and packaging. Every piece of plastic that doesn't enter the ocean is a win for sea turtles.
• Join a beach clean-up: Many communities organise regular beach clean-ups. Even picking up a few pieces of rubbish on a beach visit makes a difference.
• Turn off beach lights: Artificial lights disorient hatchlings trying to find the ocean. If you're near a nesting beach at night, keep lights off or use red-filtered torches.
• Support conservation organisations: Symbolically adopt a sea turtle through a wildlife charity (see our recommended organisations below).
• Spread the word: Share what you know! The more people understand about sea turtles, the more support conservation efforts receive.
• Choose sustainable seafood: Ask parents to look for sustainably caught seafood that uses turtle-safe fishing methods.

🐢 World Sea Turtle Day — 16 June

Every year on 16 June, the world comes together to celebrate and raise awareness for sea turtles on World Sea Turtle Day. The date honours Dr Archie Carr, a pioneering sea turtle biologist born on 16 June 1909, whose research and advocacy laid the foundation for modern sea turtle conservation.

World Sea Turtle Day is a wonderful opportunity for families, schools, and communities to take action — whether that's organising a beach clean-up, fundraising for a conservation organisation, or simply sharing sea turtle facts with friends and family. Mark it in your calendar and make it a day to celebrate these ancient ocean travellers!

Sea Turtle Activities for Kids

• Hatchling race: Mark out 50 metres (the distance a hatchling might travel to reach the ocean) and time how long it takes to crawl it. Discuss the challenges hatchlings face!
• Plastic audit: Count how many single-use plastics your family uses in one week. Then brainstorm alternatives.
• Magnetic navigation: Explore how animals use the Earth's magnetic field for navigation — a fascinating science topic.
• Nest temperature experiment: Discuss how sand temperature affects hatchling sex and connect it to climate change.
• World Sea Turtle Day project: On 16 June, have kids create a poster, write a letter to a conservation organisation, or share sea turtle facts on social media.

Sea Turtle Conservation Organisations Worth Supporting

If your family or classroom wants to go further, these organisations are doing incredible work to protect sea turtles around the world:

• IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group — the global authority on sea turtle conservation status, publishing the definitive assessments of all seven species.
• Sea Turtle Conservancy — the world's oldest sea turtle research and conservation organisation, founded in 1959. Offers symbolic turtle adoptions perfect for kids.
• WWF Australia — Sea Turtles — WWF's Australian program works to protect sea turtle nesting beaches and reduce threats from fishing and plastic pollution in our region.
• Ocean Society — runs citizen science programs and educational resources that families and schools can participate in directly.

Even a small donation or a symbolic adoption can make a meaningful contribution to the ongoing work of protecting these ancient mariners.

Dive Into Ocean Play

Our Coral Bay collection features beautifully crafted wooden ocean animal figurines, including sea turtles, made from sustainably sourced timber. They're perfect for ocean-themed play and for sparking conversations about marine conservation — and a wonderful way to mark World Sea Turtle Day on 16 June.

Shop the Coral Bay Collection →

Explore more on our Ramblings blog — from penguin family life to dinosaur discoveries.