Endangered sea turtles show global recovery in new survey

LOS ANGELES - Endangered sea turtles are making a comeback in many parts of the world, according to a newly published global survey. The study, featured in Endangered Species Research, found that threats to the marine animals—such as hunting, pollution, and coastal development—are declining in more than half of the areas examined.

Although the findings offer hope, researchers caution that not all turtle populations are rebounding equally. Leatherback turtles, in particular, remain under severe threat.

Where are sea turtles recovering—and where are they not?

Dig deeper:

The survey analyzed 48 distinct sea turtle populations worldwide and found that those in the Atlantic Ocean are generally faring better than their counterparts in the Pacific.

Species like the green turtle, while still endangered globally, are showing notable signs of recovery—especially in regions like Mexico and the U.S., where protections have been in place for decades. According to Stanford researcher Michelle María Early Capistrán, who co-authored the study, population rebounds are now visible due to longstanding efforts like beach conservation and fishing regulation.

"By ending commercial harvests and allowing them time to rebound, their populations are now doing really well" in coastal waters off many regions of Mexico and the U.S., said co-author Michelle María Early Capistrán, a Stanford University researcher who has conducted fieldwork in both countries.

Why are leatherback turtles still struggling?

The other side:

Unlike green turtles, leatherback turtles remain critically endangered in many areas. The survey notes that all seven regions where leatherbacks are found face high environmental risks.

Bryan Wallace, a wildlife ecologist and co-author of the study, told the AP that leatherbacks’ long migratory routes—spanning more than 3,700 miles in some cases—expose them to a broader array of threats, including fishing gear entanglements and changing ocean conditions.

He emphasized that while new fishing technologies can help reduce bycatch, they need to be widely adopted by global fishing communities to make a difference.

How long have conservation efforts been in place?

Timeline:

The recovery of sea turtles has been shaped by decades of conservation policy, with legal protections and international efforts gradually showing results.

• 1973: Sea turtles are listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act
• 1990: Mexico bans all captures of sea turtles
• 2025: First major global update on sea turtle populations in over a decade published

Researchers say it has taken decades for these protections to yield noticeable population improvements, underscoring the long-term nature of conservation work.

What they're saying:

Duke University ecologist Stuart Pimm, who was not involved in the study, told the AP that the findings represent one of the clearest conservation wins to date. "Many of the turtle populations have come back, though some haven’t," he said. "Overall, the sea turtle story is one of the real conservation success stories."