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Worldwide, six of the seven sea turtle species are classified as threatened or endangered due to human actions and lifestyles.

Of the 360 known turtle and tortoise species, 187 are classified as threatened by the IUCN Red List criteria. Of these, 127 are endangered or critically endangered, and could go extinct by the end of the century<sup1.

Sea turtles could disappear even earlier.

There are currently seven remaining species of sea turtles in our oceans, six of which are classified as threatened or endangered due to human actions and lifestyles. Three of the seven species are classified as critically endangered<sup2.

The sea turtle population has been in sharp decline over the last 200 years, as humans have slaughtered the animals for their eggs, meat, skin, and shells. Sea turtles are also threatened by habitat destruction and being caught up in fishing gear<sup3.

The IUCN has identified five major hazards to sea turtles: fisheries, direct take, coastal development, pollution, and climate change, all exacerbated by humans<sup4.

Legislative efforts and extending Endangered Species Act protections to sea turtles have helped bring down sea turtle bycatch mortality<sup5, but there is still much work to be done to protect sea turtles from extinction.

Take the Sea Turtle Pledge and show your support!