Help Support the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act

By New England Aquarium on Thursday, June 16, 2022

wave
See caption below
A rehabilitated sea turtle released back into the ocean.

Take Action for Sea Turtle Conservation

In the past decade, the New England Aquarium has treated thousands of Kemp’s ridley, green, and loggerhead sea turtles who experienced cold-stunning, ingested floating debris, faced marine entanglement, and more. During the 2022–2023 cold-stun season alone, our Rescue and Rehabilitation team helped triage more than 500 injured sea turtles. Sadly, these numbers are expected to rise annually due to climate change, ocean industrialization, and the proliferation of single-use plastics. 

As we continue this critical rescue and rehabilitation work, federal support is needed. This year, Representative Bill Keating (D-MA-9) and Representative Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) along with Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)  introduced The Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act to provide institutions across the country like ours with the federal funding necessary to treat stranded marine turtles. These bills will help fund recovery and rehabilitation efforts, and help us to continue collecting the data necessary to ensure the survival of these endangered species post-rehabilitation.  

To encourage legislators to cosponsor these bills, they need to hear from constituents like YOU about why sea turtle rescue and conservation are important. To make your voice heard:

  1. Find your legislators: You can find the names and contact information of your members of Congress here.
  2. Call your legislators and ask them to cosponsor and support the House bill, H.R.2560 and S.XXXX: Use the sample call script below.
  3. Post on your social accounts in support: Social media is a great tool for reaching legislators to make your voice heard. House members’ official Twitter handles for your members of Congress can be found here. Edit and tag your legislators in one of the sample social posts below to show your support!

Sample Call Script

Hello, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent of [ELECTED NAME]. I’m calling today because I’m concerned about sea turtle conservation. Organizations like the New England Aquarium support rescue and rehabilitation efforts for thousands of endangered sea turtles annually, and these numbers are only expected to increase in a changing climate. H.R.2560/S.XXXX creates a direct grant program to support this important work and will have a significant impact in conserving these endangered species. Will [ELECTED NAME] sponsor this bill? Thank you! 

Sample Social Posts

Sea turtle strandings are increasing due to climate change, marine debris, and more. @[Twitter Handle] please sponsor & support HR2560/S.XXXX, which provides funding for organizations to continue critical rescue and rehabilitation work!

Thousands of sea turtles stranded in U.S. waters in 2021. Organizations like @NEAq, @NatlAquarium, + @SCaquarium lead sea turtle rescue and rehab efforts, but more support is needed! @[Twitter Handle] please sponsor & support H.R.2560/S.XXXX which creates a federal grant program to help fund this work!

See poster image
Virtual Visit: Sea Turtle Hospital

Thank you for taking action today–your voice on this issue will have long-lasting impacts on the thousands of sea turtles we rescue and care for in our facilities each year!

Caring for a sea turtle at our Quincy Animal Care Center.
Caring for a cold-stunned sea turtle at our Quincy Animal Care Center.

Threats to Sea Turtles

Cold-stunning

Turtles are ectothermic, meaning their internal body temperature is determined by the water or air around them. Sea turtles migrate seasonally to New England to find rich food supplies. In the fall, as water temperatures drop, sea turtles must migrate south into warmer water. Occasionally, turtles find themselves stuck in the hook-shaped Cape Cod Bay. As water temperatures continue to plunge, turtles become cold-stunned, similar to hypothermia in humans. They can also suffer secondary illness from cold-stunning including abrasions, broken bones and pneumonia. If not treated in time, cold-stunning can be fatal.

Climate Change

From sea level rise impacting nesting beaches to warmer water temperatures causing changes in food supply, climate change is already affecting sea turtles. Sea turtles display temperature-dependent sex determination, meaning temperature of the egg during incubation determines the sex of the baby turtle. Studies have shown higher temperatures are resulting in significantly more female turtles, limiting mate availability later in their life cycle.

Plastics and Trash

In important feeding areas, water currents can concentrate turtles’ food sources with floating debris. Turtles can mistake plastic bags, balloons, food wrappers, and more for food like jellies.

Entanglement

Entanglement in fishing nets or ropes can prevent air-breathing animals like sea turtles from swimming to the water’s surface, causing them to drown.

Stay Updated

Want to learn more about the ways you can help us to protect our blue planet? Please complete the form below to receive updates from the New England Aquarium regarding advocacy opportunities.

wave

Related Stories

Help Support the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act

Help Support the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act

Make your voice heard in support of sea turtle rescue.

Sea Turtle Saved After Ingesting Stringed Balloon

Sea Turtle Saved After Ingesting Stringed Balloon

A Kemp's ridley turtle was recently admitted for treatment at the Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy, MA after ingesting a balloon string.

Scientists Pioneer Tagging Procedure for Threatened Sea Turtles

Scientists Pioneer Tagging Procedure for Threatened Sea Turtles

Over the next few years, Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life Drs. Kara Dodge and Charlie Innis are hoping to learn enough about the habits and patterns of threatened loggerhead turtles to help save them by utilizing data from surgically implanted acoustic tags—a first-of-its-kind effort.

wave

Make a Difference for Sea Turtles

Your support makes a difference for threatened and endangered marine life everywhere by helping provide the Aquarium with the resources to conduct research, advocate, and rehabilitate.

SUPPORT OUR WORK