History of Green Sea Turtle Population

By cwerrlein
  • Period: to

    Green Sea Turtle population declines

    The green sea turtles are known as a commercial food and are hunted for leather, flesh, oil, skin, and their shells.

  • Concern for green sea turtle rises

    The population of the green sea turtle decreases at a slower rate. This is because there is a rising concern for the future of the species, so demand for turtle products decrease.

  • Population declines as demand grows

    Population began to decline again as demand for gourmet food, cosmetics, leather, flesh, oil, and skin increased.

  • First siting of Fibropapillomatosis

    Has not been seen since 1930. A diease, most likely caused by human pollutants, that affects sea turtles. It is marked by the presence of large tumors all over the turtle's body.

  • Population almost at an all time low

    Estimated population remaining: 100,000-400,000 green sea turtles

  • Hawaii issued regulations

    These regulations provided some protection, but were virtually ignored

  • Endangered Species Act of 1978

    Green Sea Turtles become endangered, earning them the protection of the Endangered Species Act of 1978 (ESA).

  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

    CITES proclaims that international trade of sea turtle parts is illegal.

  • Population begins to rise

    Population of Green Sea Turtles begins to rise immediately thanks to the ESA and because of increasing public awareness.

  • Fibropapillomatosis becomes an epidemic

    Many sea turtles are affected by this increasingly common disease; causes turtle population to fluctuate a little, but then it continues to grow steadily.

  • Memorandum on the Turtle Island Heritage Protected Area

    The TIHPA protects areas where the green sea turtle nests are abundant.

  • Specially Protected Areas of Wildlife

    The green sea turtle becomes protected under Annex II of SPAW, a protocol that aims in conserving areas where green sea turtles nest.

  • The Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles

    The IAC provides legal framework for countries in the Americas and the Caribbean to take actions for the benefit of sea turtles.

  • Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection

    This protocol promotes the protection, conservation, replenishing, and recovery of the sea turtles and habitats based on scientific evidence.