World Turtle Day is a critical moment to raise awareness about the plight of sea turtles – and the dangers they pose to human health when ignored. Of the world’s seven marine turtle species, five are found along Tanzania’s coastline. All are listed as endangered or critically endangered by the IUCN. This year’s message is clear: protecting sea turtles is a matter of survival—for them and for us.
Despite surviving for over 100 million years, sea turtles now face unprecedented threats due to modern human activities. Chief among these is illegal poaching and the consumption of turtle meat, particularly in coastal communities of Tanzania and Zanzibar where these practices persist, despite being outlawed. Poaching and trade in sea turtles and their eggs are illegal in Tanzania and carry significant penalties.
Many believe sea turtle meat and eggs have medicinal or aphrodisiac properties. However, these beliefs come at a deadly cost. Consuming turtle meat is not only driving turtle populations to the brink—it’s also putting human lives at risk. In a tragic incident in March 2024, eight children and one adult died after eating sea turtle meat on Pemba Island, Zanzibar. Another 78 people were hospitalized. The cause is chelonitoxism, a rare but deadly form of food poisoning linked specifically to sea turtle meat. It wasn’t the first time. In 2021, seven people, including a three-year-old, also died in Pemba after consuming poisonous turtle meat.
But poaching isn’t the only threat. Turtles are also exploited for oil, leather, and ornaments. Incidental bycatch in fishing gear, the destruction of nesting beaches due to coastal development, and the degradation of feeding grounds further contribute to their decline. Most urgently, plastic pollution is wreaking havoc. Sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish or seaweed, leading to fatal blockages in their digestive systems. Others become entangled in discarded fishing nets, unable to surface for air—resulting in drowning. According to the State of the World’s Sea Turtles (SWOT), at least 1,000 turtles die annually from plastic entanglement—equivalent to one every 9 hours. These combined pressures are contributing to rapid population declines, making conservation efforts more important than ever.
Sea turtles are essential to Tanzania’s marine ecosystems and coastal economy. As keystone species, their decline would trigger cascading effects across the marine environment. They help maintain the health of coral reefs and seagrass beds—vital nurseries for fish, shrimp, lobster, and tuna. By foraging and digging nests, they create habitats for other species. As both predator and prey, they help balance marine food webs and contribute to nutrient cycling by breaking down dead organisms.
Ritha Johansen, Representative of Wild Africa in Tanzania, says, “Almost all of the threats faced by sea turtles and their habitats are human induced. The consumption of sea turtles not only endangers the already endangered species, but it also poses deadly risks for human lives. We need to change peoples’ attitudes and behaviours around illegal poaching and consumption of sea turtle meat — for the benefit of both endangered species and the communities that live alongside them. Poaching steals from us all. If we lose our sea turtles, we lose a vital part of the ocean’s delicate balance. Protecting them means protecting marine ecosystems, cultural heritage, and future generations. It’s time we recognize that our actions have consequences — and that change begins with us.”
While the situation is dire, there is hope! Last year, governments, scientific experts and other international stakeholders gathered at the 9th Meeting of the Signatory States to the IOSEA Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to coordinate conservation efforts across the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. Among the outcomes were the adoption of a Single Species Action Plan for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, recommendations on beach management and hatchery practices, as well as the endorsement of guidance on identifying critical habitats for turtles. On the closing day of the meeting, the State of Kuwait – hosting five of the seven marine turtle species – became the 36th Signatory State by signing the agreement.
You can make a difference too by saying NO to the illegal poaching and consumption of sea turtle meat. Together, we can protect our marine life and communities, and restore the biodiversity of our oceans—for future generations and our own.
