Sea Turtle Week is June 12–16, 2023! This week, we're highlighting these marine reptiles and our work to conserve them. Swimming in Earth’s oceans for hundreds of millions of years, sea turtles lead incredible lives and survive for many decades at sea. They can travel thousands of miles in search of food, eventually returning to the beaches where they were born to nest.
As key parts of marine ecosystems worldwide, sea turtles face many threats today. Six sea turtle species are found in U.S. waters and all are threatened or endangered. The largest among them—the Pacific leatherback—is one of NOAA Fisheries' Species in the Spotlight. This initiative is a concerted, agency-wide effort launched in 2015 to spotlight and save the most highly at-risk marine species.
Take a dive into our sea turtle features and videos below. Follow us on social media to see how NOAA conserves and protects sea turtle populations and how you can help, too.
Sea Turtle Features
Open Ocean Trustees Conserve Additional Acreage on Florida’s East Coast to Benefit Sea Turtles
In collaboration with partners at The Conservation Fund and the State of Florida, the Open Ocean Trustees completed the acquisition of a 1.07-acre parcel in April 2023 and a 0.8-acre parcel in January 2023. These beachfront parcels, which were acquired from willing private property owners, will protect habitat for beach-nesting sea turtles in eastern Florida.
Land acquisition to protect sea turtle habitat
Green Turtle Conservation Successes and Continuing Challenges
A look at successes and challenges faced by different green turtle populations.
Recovering Endangered Indo-Pacific Leatherback Turtles
NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center spearheads international efforts to research and protect leatherback turtles in the Pacific Ocean.
Recovering endangered Indo-Pacific leatherback turtles
Meet Melissa Cook, Research Fishery Biologist
As part of the Faces of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center series, meet Dr. Melissa Cook.
Learn more about Melissa Cook and her work
Protecting Leatherbacks Across the Globe
Our podcast dives into how NOAA Fisheries and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service collaborate together and with other countries that host leatherback nesting beaches to conserve and recover this special sea turtle population.
Hear more about our work to protect leatherbacks across the globe
Video: Decoding the Mystery of Turtle Genomes
Researchers examined the genetic differences between green and leatherback sea turtles to see which species might be more resilient to climate change.
Decoding the mystery of turtle genomes
Video: Tagging Leatherback Turtles
Scientists tag leatherback sea turtles to learn where they are and how they use the water so we can better protect them from bycatch and other threats.
Sea Turtle Week 2023: Reflecting on Sea Turtle Recovery
A message from Kim Damon-Randall, Director of NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, for Sea Turtle Week June 12–16, 2023.
New Resource Available for Gulf of Mexico Sea Turtle Data Collection
A new resource offering guidance on in-water sea turtle data collection is now available for researchers, restoration planners, and resource managers working in the Gulf of Mexico.
Explore more about Gulf of Mexico sea turtle data collection
7 Sea Turtle Facts for the Ocean Lover
Sea turtles are fascinating creatures. Learn some facts about these much-loved marine reptiles.
Newly Mapped Sea Turtle Genomes Reveal Ancient Roadmap of Survival
New research paper decodes the mysteries of the endangered leatherback and green sea turtle genomes.
NOAA Enforcement Helps Protect Marine Life in National Marine Sanctuaries
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement recently partnered with federal and state enforcement agencies to protect sea turtles in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Protecting sea turtles in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Hawksbill Sea Turtles Are Truly Hawaiʻi Locals
The first genetic characterization of hawksbill sea turtles in Hawaiʻi reveals new discoveries about this mysterious endangered species.
Genetic characterization of hawksbill sea turtles
Hawaiian Hawksbill Turtles: One of the World's Most Endangered Sea Turtle Population
See what scientists are discovering about the Hawaiian hawksbill sea turtle in their efforts to bring back the endangered population.
Learn about Hawaiian hawksbill sea turtle research