On 7th July 2009, HCT became Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, a new voice for conserving frogs, toads, newts, snakes and lizards

The UK Marine Turtle Code

Of the world’s seven marine turtle species, five have been recorded in UK waters. They are the leatherback, loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, green and hawksbill turtles. The leatherback, the largest marine turtle, is the species most frequently recorded in UK waters. Leatherbacks have a flexible, leathery shell and are unique among reptiles in that they are able to metabolically raise their body temperature above that of their immediate environment, allowing them to survive in colder waters. Each summer leatherbacks migrate to UK waters where they feed on jellyfish. The other four species have hard shells and are less frequently encountered in UK waters, where they usually occur as stray juveniles carried by currents from warmer seas.

MARINE TURTLES ARE THREATENED
   In UK waters threats include: 
•  Accidental entanglement in fishing gear. Although turtles
    can dive to great depths, they become stressed and drown
    when trapped underwater by fishing gear. Fishing gear
    discarded at sea may also entangle and kill turtles.
•  Marine litter, especially plastic, which turtles mistake for  
   jellyfish. Once ingested, plastic can block a turtle’s gut leading 
   to starvation.
•  Boat collisions.  Turtles often bask and must surface  
    regularly to breathe, leaving them vulnerable to boat strike.
   PLEASE BE VIGILANT, AND DO NOT DISCARD FISHING
   GEAR OR LITTER AT SEA

Please download the Marine Turtle Code a publication by the Marine Conservation Society, with support from Natural England, Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Trust, The Wildlife Trusts, Northern Ireland Environment Agency  

.