Swim into Sea Turtle Week

June 11, 2023

Sea turtles are a key part of marine ecosystems worldwide, but they face many threats today. NOAA works to protect and conserve six sea turtle species found in U.S. waters. All are threatened or endangered.

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Illustrated swimming sea turtles on banner for Sea Turtle Week

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

A green sea turtle makes their way on sand to the water — Green sea turtle. Credit: Blair Witherington.

Green Turtle Conservation Successes and Continuing Challenges

A look at successes and challenges faced by different green turtle populations.

Green turtle conservation

Sea turtle swims above sea grass — Juvenile green turtle swimming over a bed of seagrass. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

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

A leatherback turtle swimming in the waters of the Kei Islands, Indonesia. Credit: WWF-Indonesia/Brian Rayanki (Photo taken under international permit)

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

Melissa Cook releasing a satellite tagged Kemp's ridley sea turtle. — Melissa Cook releasing a satellite tagged Kemp's ridley sea turtle into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Mississippi. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Lesley Stokes (Permit # 21233).

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

Leatherbacks are the largest sea turtles in the world, but many populations are rapidly declining around the world because of threats from bycatch, hunting, and habitat degradation. Credit: Jason Isley/Scubazoo (Photo taken under permit)

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.

Tagging leatherback turtles

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.

Read her leadership message

A hawksbill sea turtle swimming above a coral reef in western Maui in the Hawaiian Islands. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Don McLeish. Photo taken under permit #21260.

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

Scientist Chris Sasso measures a loggerhead turtle on boat — Scientist Chris Sasso measures a loggerhead turtle as part of ongoing data collection efforts at NOAA. Credit: NOAA.

7 Sea Turtle Facts for the Ocean Lover

Sea turtles are fascinating creatures. Learn some facts about these much-loved marine reptiles.

Check out sea turtle facts

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.

New research on leatherback and green sea turtle genomes

Leatherback turtle hatchling heading to the open ocean off Papua New Guinea. Photo: Scott Benson

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