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I'm sure you've all heard of the "Save the Turtles" movement. Often connected to the VSCO girl, we associate sea turtles with metal straws, puka shell necklaces, and scrunchies. Many people now use the phrase in a mocking manner, especially on social media platforms like Tik Tok. But what is the Save the Turtles movement really about?
Sea turtles are an endangered species, threatened by human activity and waste. They are victims of overharvesting and trade, impacting their population significantly. But perhaps the most well-known threat sea turtles face is human waste and debris in the ocean.
Think about how it would feel to take a huge bite of your favorite sandwich only to realize it's a commercial prop made of styrofoam—and you might be able to imagine the confusion sea turtles experience when they bite down on what looks like a delicious jellyfish, but is really a large piece of thin plastic floating through the sea. Not only is the plastic toxic, sea turtles often choke on the plastic they accidentally ingest, causing harm and in many cases death. They can also get tangled up in plastic debris and discarded fishing gear.
The modern Save the Turtles movement was born of this predicament. Young people began ditching their one-use disposable plastic straws for reusable metal ones, opting for paper or cloth bags while shopping, and purchasing food with less plastic packaging. It became more commonplace to cut up the plastic rings that come with six-packs of soda.
The anti-straw movement also saw a big rise in popularity around 2018, though its origins can be traced all the way back to 2011. Fun fact: the movement was started by a nine year old boy! What were you doing when you were nine? Personally, my nine-year-old self couldn't even grasp the impact of plastic on the natural world, much less find the inspiration to research and remedy the issue. As a result of his inspiration, metal straws became much more popular, and there have already been multiple plastic straw bans in restaurants, businesses, and more.
The Save the Turtles movement rose significantly in popularity with the dawn of the VSCO girl around 2019, but can be traced back to before the 1960s. Activists have been fighting for these little guys for decades!
So, why are sea turtles still so endangered? Turtles are purportedly the most endangered group of animals on the planet, with 61% of them either extinct or threatened. Even with all our work, not much will change for these poor turtles unless governmental action is taken. Straw bans can only do so much when businesses are still allowed to produce and waste large amounts of plastic.
The six-decade long movement has not gone unnoticed. Businesses are facing more stress than ever from investors and consumers to reduce their ecological footprint, especially when it comes to plastic and toxic waste. If we can inspire big change, we can reduce our impact on sea turtle populations. So the next time you hear someone laughing about "saving the turtles," remember the real history behind the movement, and the great potential we have to save them!
What You Can Do:
Swap one-use plastic items for reusable alternatives. This could include metal straws, metal eating utensils, and cloth grocery bags.
Opt for food with less packaging. For example, fruits and vegetables are often packaged in convenient family-sized numbers. Choose instead to grab the unpackaged fresh fruits and veggies!
Organize a beach clean-up. Work with groups in your area (or put one together yourself!) to schedule a time to search the beach for waste. This is the best, because you get to take a walk on the beach for this one!
Write to businesses and lawmakers, urging them to put limits on their plastic use and waste.
Educate yourself and others. Stay up to date with environmental issues and species population reports, and keep the issue in sight and in mind. The internet is full of resources, and spreading the word raises the likelihood that someone else will change their habits!
Donate time or money to the cause. There is amazing work being done toward the conservation of our ocean species, so if you can't make large changes to your habits, this is a great option for you. Here are a few of my favorite places to get involved: