Turtles help control their prey. Leatherbacks help manage the amount jellyfish in the ocean and hawksbills help reefs by eating sponges that they compete for space.
Turtle nesting helps beach habitat. The nutrients left behind by eggs and hatchlings that don’t survive provide an important source for coastal vegetation.
Hatchlings and eggs are an important source of food for many animals. Birds, fish, mammals like raccoons, and others rely on plentiful hatchlings to survive during nesting season.
Turtles are important for coastal economies and native communities. Many places rely on turtle watching or diving for jobs and income and many indigenous communities revere sea turtles as part of their cultures. Plus seeing a sea turtle in the wild brings emotional and psychological benefits.
Restoring habitat. Green turtles grazing on seagrass is an important way to keep seagrass beds healthy. And healthy seagrass benefits many species and stores carbon.
