Located in the North-East of Australia, The Great Barrier Reef is home to one third of the World's Coral population and is home to the largest coral reef system in the world.

This beautifully diverse habitat, full of clever and colourful marine life is incredibly important to both people and wildlife. Not only do they provide crucial shelter and food for many marine animals, but they also produce crucial nitrogen which is important for many food chains, and help protect coastlines from the damaging effects of tropical storms. Without them our world would be a different place, with less, with significantly less food and less places for us to live. Did know you know that we also rely on coral reefs to make medicines, break down pollutants in the atmosphere and purify the water we drink and air we breathe!

Due to the action of humans (hunting, water pollution, unsustainable fishing etc.), many of the species that live in this natural wonder of the world are endangered.

Turtles have been inhabiting our oceans for over 150 million years! But sadly, all six species that live in the Great Barrier Reef are endangered. Let’s take a closer look at these beauties:

An incredible creature that can change its color based on the water temperature it lives in. These small sea turtles are often spotted in shallow waters, where they feed on sponges and lay their eggs. Sadly, their eggs are considered as a delicatessen dish and are eaten in many parts of the world, resulting in many being stolen from the wild and threatening their population numbers.

The most mysterious member of the sea turtle family. Little is known of the flatback turtle, however they’re reported to bask in the sun at the surface, often with sea birds perched on their backs. They are predominantly carnivorous, feeding on squid, sea cucumbers, soft corals, and molluscs. This 1m long turtle can be identified by their flat body and smooth carapace (shell) which is yellow-grey or green-grey, with upturned edges.

Named for the green colour of the fat under its shell, the Green sea turtle is easily distinguished because they've a single pair of prefrontal scales (scales in front of its eyes), rather than two pairs commonly found on other sea turtles. One of their most interesting behaviours, their diet changes significantly during its lifetime. When less than 10 inches long, they eat worms, young crustaceans, aquatic insects, grasses and algae. Once they reach 10 inches in length, they mostly eat sea grass and algae - the only sea turtle that is strictly herbivorous as an adult. Their jaws are finely serrated which aids them in tearing vegetation apart. They like to stay near the coastline, living in bays and protected shores, especially in areas with seagrass beds. They’re rarely spotted in the open ocean. Despite being the most abundant species in the Barrier Reef, the high decrease in their nesting numbers (due to climate change causing frequent flooding of their nests), now makes this species endangered.

The smallest of all sea turtles, the Olive Ridley is named after the colour of its shell—an olive green hue. This species is vulnerable due to nesting in a very small number of places. Therefore any disturbance to even one nest beach could have huge repercussions on the entire population. Many governments have protection for olive ridleys, but still, eggs are taken and nesting females are slaughtered for their meat and skin. Fishing nets also take a large toll, frequently snagging and drowning these turtles.

Named for its unique shell, which is composed of a layer of thin, tough, rubbery skin which makes it look leathery, it is the only sea turtle that lacks a hard shell.  Known to be active in water below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, they are the only known reptile to remain active at such a low temperature. Although their distribution is wide, numbers of leatherback turtles have seriously declined. Their biggest threats include incidental take in commercial fisheries and marine pollution (such as balloons and plastic bags floating in the water, which are mistaken for jellyfish).

The loggerhead has earned its name due to its big head, which it uses to crush its food including clams and sea urchins. One of the largest, they carry more encrusting organisms (such as barnacles) on its carapace than other marine turtles species - as many as 100 species of animals and plants have been recorded living on one single loggerhead turtle! Sadly, many of their nesting beaches are under threat from tourism development.

Why are so many sea turtles endangered?

Due to the value of their shell, eggs and meat; turtles are heavily hunted. They are especially vulnerable, as female turtles hatch their eggs offshore, creating a nest where she needs to come back to; making eggs easy prey for hunters. Spending their whole lives migrating, they are hit by boats frequently and accidentally caught in fishing nets. hey also face habitat destruction and accidental capture in fishing gear. They are also directly impacted on by climate change - as sand temperatures alter, it affects the sex of hatchlings.

1) Become a sea turtle ambassador

Wear your turtle necklace or bracelet with pride and let it help you spark conversation about the different sea turtles and how we can help them.

2) Dispose of rubbish during beach visits

Ensure that you take home all of your rubbish with you to avoid them being dumped at sea and causing damage to wildlife.

3) Stop using single-use plastics

Items including plastic bottles, bags, straws and lids all fall under this category. Hundreds of thousands of plastic bags end up into the ocean, which a turtle easily mistakes as jellyfish and can help end up suffocating as the bag gets stuck in their organs. mistaking a turtle for jelly fish which can suffocate a turtle. Pack yourself a reusable set to take out and about with you - including a reusable drinks bottle, strong reusable bag, cutlery and a straw (made from either bamboo, metal or paper). Lots of companies also sell these packs ready made so they’re easy to pick up.

4) Use social media to spread the word

Use your social media accounts to share this information with others. Show  your followers that you care about the future of sea turtles and what can be done to help them.

5) Empower those around you

Buy a marine turtle necklace or bracelet for a friend who’ll also receive a card about wildlife conservation, and support  ethically-manufactured jewellery. 12% of profits are also donated to three wildlife charities.

6) Stay alert when boating

Boat and propeller strikes can seriously injure or kill sea turtles, so to avoid these incidents, slow down when you spot a turtle, stay in channels, and avoid boating over their habitat like sea grass beds.