Threats

The potential threats/challenges to marine turtle survival could be analysed thus:

• Natural and anthropogenic impacts like shore line changes & erosion of beaches, climate change and bleaching of corals
• Industrial development along the coast leading to artificial illumination and affluent discharges into the sea
• Collection of corals for decorative purposes
• Changing land-use pattern in the coastal belt like destruction of mangroves and plantation of casuarina between the high water mark & the high nesting mark.
• Sand mining for construction purposes

• Poaching and trade in turtle meat, eggs, shell, blood for medicinal purposes and for commercial consumption in few coastal pockets.
• Feral dogs and birds like crows, eagles, etc.

• Incidental catch as a result of trawl nets, gill nets, and long liners
• Trawlers operating without turtle exclusive devices leading to the drowning and turtles mortality.

• Weak legislation and ineffective implementation of the legal and policy instruments
• Inadequate funds allocated to protect the nesting and foraging sites
• Inadequate arming of manpower for enforcement and monitoring