Sea turtles inhabit warmer and saltier waters than 30 years ago

Climate change has already affected the marine habitat and life in our oceans. Several thousand marine species are being influenced directly or indirectly by climate change, with the IUCN listing sea turtles as globally affected species with a decreasing population. This study analyzes the largest dataset of sea turtle tags with measurements of Sea Surface Temperature and Salinity (from OBIS-SEAMAP) and evaluates the trend over the past 30 years for the major basins of the global ocean. The study reveals that sea turtles swim, forage, and live in warmer and saltier waters with an increasing trend for every marine habitat. Especially in the case of the Indian Ocean, sea turtles experience warmer SSTs by 5 °C. The findings of this work are critical, as they highlight the need to act to reduce the anthropogenic impact on sea turtle populations and to compensate for the impact of climate change, which is expected to exhibit further increases in the near future. Although it may be beneficial in some cases by making previously inaccessible regions (due to the water being too cold) now available for sea turtles to inhabit, sea turtles may not be capable of adapting to the current rate of climate change. • Sea turtles swim, breathe, and live in warmer and saltier waters than 30 years ago • The Indian Ocean exhibits the largest increase in SST • The Indian Ocean exhibits the largest increase in SSS • These changes are a product of climate change and may affect sea turtles and their environment