The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) launched a new series of stamps today to promote the protection of sea turtles, with a dedication ceremony at the Texas State Aquarium. The "Protect Sea Turtles Forever" stamps aim to raise awareness about the threats faced by these ancient marine creatures. The campaign is being shared widely on social media with the hashtag #ProtectSeaTurtlesStamps.
"Sea turtles are majestic creatures who play an important role in marine ecosystems," said David Camp, USPS Texas 2 District manager. "As you send letters to your friends and family using these stamps, we hope they will serve as a reminder that we can all do our part to help save these incredible ancient mariners."
The six stamps feature sea turtles that depend on U.S. coastal waters for foraging and migratory habitats during various stages of their lives. All six species featured on the stamps are listed and protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Sea turtles are one of the oldest groups of animals on Earth, spending most of their lives at sea and only coming ashore to lay eggs or bask. Known for their long migrations, they can travel across entire oceans. There are seven species of sea turtles worldwide, each unique but sharing common traits such as being streamlined for ocean life, cold-blooded, air-breathing, and egg-laying on land.
Sea turtles face numerous threats globally, including bycatch—being accidentally captured in fishing gear—habitat loss from coastal development, artificial beach lighting, boat strikes, and illegal harvesting. Climate change also presents significant risks, such as rising sea levels that flood nesting beaches and warming sands that alter hatchling sex ratios. Efforts to mitigate these threats are ongoing, led by federal, state, and international agencies and organizations. However, individuals can also play a crucial role in protecting sea turtles by taking simple precautions:
- Choose seafood that is harvested in turtle-safe ways.
- Minimize beachfront lighting during nesting season.
- Avoid disturbing nesting sites.
- Boat at safe speeds to reduce the risk of striking sea turtles.
"All sea turtle species in the U.S. are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. These species face multiple human threats, and their recovery is further challenged by climate change impacts," said Dr. Shannon Bettridge, chief of the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Division of NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources. "The Protect Sea Turtles stamps are a long-lasting symbol to raise awareness of the species' plight and engage the public in their conservation."
The stamps feature photographs of six sea turtle species: a gray-green Kemp's ridley by Doug Perrine, a black-and-white leatherback by Rowan Byrne, an olive ridley by Solvin Zankl, a green sea turtle by David B. Fleetham, a mottled orange-brown loggerhead by James D. Watt, and a brownish-yellow hawksbill by Claudio Contreras. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the pane of 18 stamps using these photographs.
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