Sea turtles are endangered around the globe, but they may receive much needed support from Congress. A bipartisan bill, the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act is on the cusp of passage, The bill would create a permanent grant program to assist organizations rescuing turtles. Sea turtles are federally protected, but costs of rescue and rehabilitation are significant. They face a number of threats caused by human activity from entanglement in discarded fishing gear and plastic waste to cold stunning events caused by global climate change. Eight members of the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network spent $5 million a year over the last two years caring for more than 2,000 rescued turtles. You can view the journey to release made by rescued turtles here.
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| credit: AP |
Strandings have increased dramatically in New England mostly due to unusually cold sea water that stuns the reptiles who are unable to control their internal body temperature like mammals do. The $33 million program will fill the gap in sea turtle conservation. Less than 50 sea turtles were found stranded on Cape Cod in 2000, but that number accelerated to 800 in 2022. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) told reporters that without the additional support the six species of sea turtles in US waters face extinction. Both the Senate and House versions of the bill have bipartisan support and have reached the floor of both legislative bodies for a vote on passage. Show your support for this important conservation legislation by contacting your congressional representatives here.