Scientists ‘Shocked’: 99% of Great Barrier Reef Sea Turtles Are Now Female

(ANTIMEDIA) Australia — Results from a new study published Monday in the journal Current Biology have shed light on a startling reality. Researchers say global temperatures are turning nearly all Great Barrier Reef sea turtles female.

“This is extreme — like capital letters extreme, exclamation point extreme,” Camryn Allen, co-author of the study and turtle scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Hawaii, told National Geographic. “We’re talking a handful of males to hundreds and hundreds of females. We were shocked.”

The sex of the green sea turtle is determined not by genetics, but by the temperature of the sand incubating the eggs. Hotter sand produces females while cooler sand allows for males. The new data shows that among the northern population of green sea turtles at the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), females now outnumber males 116 to 1.

In fact, researchers say, 99.1 percent of all juvenile turtles within this northern population was found to be female, with the figure rising to 99.8 percent for subadults. In contrast, the green sea turtle population at the southern end of GBR, where median temperatures are lower, is only 65 to 69 percent female.

Allen says the cause of this concerning trend is obvious. “If it’s not climate change, then what is it?” she asked the Washington Post.

Biologist David Owens, professor emeritus at the College of Charleston, agrees. “Climate change is clearly the culprit,” he told the Post.

Owens, who did not participate in the study but has worked with some of the researchers before, says the green sea turtle is not the only species being affected. Other temperature-dependent reptiles are having similar reactions.

“Many of the other species and populations my colleagues are studying are already showing 90 percent or more female populations,” he said.

Brendan Godley, sea turtle expert and professor of conservation science at the University of Exeter, told National Geographic the results of the new study are “groundbreaking” and that they “clearly point to the fact that climate change is changing many aspects of wildlife biology.”

Dermot O’Gorman, chief executive for the World Wildlife Fund Australia, also acknowledged the importance of the study while speaking with the Guardian. In doing so, he tied the study results to recent research highlighting the fact that mass coral bleaching events are now occurring with alarming frequency:

“We’ve had two years where we’ve had mass bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef. That’s a very visible sign of the impact of climate change. But this is an invisible change. We can’t see the impact it’s having on a turtle population until a study like this shows some long-term trends.”

The study’s researchers say that if there’s any good news here, it’s that there still remains time to act on behalf of the green sea turtle due to their long lifespans and conservation efforts currently underway by the Australian government.

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Brewery Develops Edible 6-Pack Rings to Save Marine LIfe, Reduce Plastic Waste

Delray Beach, FL – A Florida microbrewery has adopted a novel way to not only reduce plastic waste but also give a little something back to the environment. Saltwater Brewery, located on the Atlantic coast, uses barley and wheat leftover from the brewing process to produce biodegradable six-pack rings that serve as food for wildlife.

Plastic six-pack rings and other forms of plastic waste kill millions of seabirds, marine mammals and sea turtles every year. At the current rate, scientists predict that by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans.

Problems like this one, demand creative solutions, and Saltwater Brewery has delivered. Instead of posing a massive threat to marine life, the compostable beer packaging either biodegrades or becomes a safe snack for fish and other sea creatures.

While the process is slightly more costly at this point, wider adoption of the process would bring down costs for the industry. Their produce has the full support of locals who recognize the importance of environmental stewardship.

“The creative solution we bring forward has the potential to influence how we do sustainable packaging with zero waste and no impact on wildlife,” said Marco Vega, co-founder of We Believers, which partnered with Saltwater Brewery to produce the six-pack rings.

The noble founders of Saltwater Brewery, made up of “fisherman, surfers and people that love the sea,” are passionate about preserving marine ecosystems, and also show it by donating to charities – all the while producing great-tasting craft beers. Caution: looking over the “on tap” list at Saltwater’s website may compel you to book a trip to Delray Beach.

“Using only pure and natural ingredients, each style of handcrafted beer and corresponding name is inspired by the ocean to reflect the lifestyle and passion of the Founders. Saltwater’s goal is to maintain the world’s greatest wonder by giving back through ocean based charities (CCA, Surfrider, Ocean Foundation, MOTE) and the Edible Six Pack Rings.”

The peril faced by marine life is hard to fathom for most, as humanity has become disconnected from that which sustains us. Whales dying from bellies full of plastic, turtles and birds choking on debris – it’s all ‘out of sight, out of mind’ for most people.

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Healthy marine ecosystems are essential for the continuation of stable human life. Ecosystem collapse would have real effects on our lives, not to mention the tragedy of extinguishing species that have evolved to wondrous and incredible forms over millions of years.

Dilution is NOT the solution to pollution. The oceans are not inexhaustible and are not endless dumping grounds. Corporations and government obfuscate the real effects of rampant consumerism – such as plastic waste – knowing full well that an informed populace poses a threat to their profits and power.

Saltwater Brewery’s compostable, edible six-pack rings are one of many technologies available to reduce the environmental impact of human activity as the population grows. One day there could be boats that turn plastic waste into diesel fuel. Researchers are exploring how to use wax worm caterpillars to eat plastic waste such as shopping bags.

While scientists work on those things, let’s use our hard-earned money to support companies that work toward a more sustainable future, such as Saltwater Brewery.