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World Sea Turtle Day

Join us in celebrating World Sea Turtle Day and learn how you can help protect these majestic creatures!

Tuesday

June 2026

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEJune 16

OBSERVED INInternationally

CATEGORYAnimals

SUBCATEGORYWildlife

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Celebrate World Sea Turtle Day on June 16 and show some love to these beautiful creatures! This special day was created in 2008 to raise awareness about the threats facing sea turtles, such as pollution, climate change, fishing bycatch, and coastal development. It's also a great opportunity to learn more about sea turtles and their important role in our oceans. From loggerheads to leatherbacks, these ancient reptiles have been around for over 100 million years – so let's make sure they're around for many more!

TIMELINE

World Sea Turtle Day Timeline

Endangered Species Act

All species of sea turtles found in U.S. waters were classified as endangered or threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Sea Turtle Conservancy Founded

The Sea Turtle Conservancy, the world’s oldest sea turtle research and conservation group, was established to protect sea turtles and their habitats.

Major Nesting Discovery

Scientists discovered that sea turtles return to their birthplace to nest, deepening our understanding of sea turtle behavior and aiding conservation efforts.

World Sea Turtle Day Inception

World Sea Turtle Day was initiated by American Tortoise Rescue to honor and promote the protection of sea turtles.

Turtle Excluder Devices Laws

The use of turtle excluder devices became mandatory in some regions, significantly reducing the number of sea turtles caught in fishing gear.

Rise in Global Conservation Efforts

The United Nations launched a global campaign against plastic pollution, which poses a major threat to sea turtles and other marine life.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate World Sea Turtle Day

Adopt a Sea Turtle

Adopt a sea turtle or donate money to a sea turtle conservation group. This will help support the conservation of sea turtles by providing funds for research, protection, and conservation efforts.

TAKE

Take a Sea Turtle Tour

Take a sea turtle tour or visit a sea turtle sanctuary. You'll get to learn about the life of sea turtles, their habitats and their behavior.

EDUCATE

Educate Others

Learn more about the plight of sea turtles and share what you know with others to help spread awareness and inspire them to take action.

VOLUNTEER

Volunteer

Volunteer at a local sea turtle hospital or at a beach clean up event. This will help ensure that our beaches are safe for nesting sea turtles and that any injured turtles are cared for.

REDUCE

Reduce Plastic Use

Reduce your plastic use as much as possible to help reduce the amount of plastic pollution in our oceans, which is a major threat to sea turtles.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why World Sea Turtle Day is Important

Sea turtles bring tourists

Tourists flock to coastal areas to witness nesting females lay their eggs or observe baby sea turtles make their way to the ocean for the first time. These activities can provide economic benefits for local communities, which helps strengthen conservation efforts even further.

Sea turtles are endangered

Sea turtles are considered one of the most endangered species in the world, and their numbers continue to decline due to habitat destruction, coastal development and fishing. World Sea Turtle Day is a global effort to bring attention to this crisis and help protect sea turtles from extinction.

Sea turtles play a crucial role in maintaining ocean health

Sea turtles feed on algae and sea grasses, which keep our oceans clean by controlling the spread of potentially toxic microorganisms. They also eat jellyfish, helping to manage their population which can otherwise become a nuisance when they swarm beaches during summer months.

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