An essential factor in the process of conserving marine biodiversity, the sea turtle is in a spiral of global threats. In Benin, the rarefaction of this animal species in recent years has raised many concerns. Given the scale of the dangers, the State and some civil society organizations are working together to ensure that the generations of this species live on the Beninese coastline.

In Benin, as in most African countries where they are present, marine turtles have many threats to their survival.

According to the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Benin, "Nature Tropicale," these threats are of several kinds, but above all anthropic, that is to say, related to the actions of man.

In fact, in its fishing activities, humans endanger the survival of marine turtles through destructive gear such as the abandonment of nets at sea in particular by licensed trawlers and clandestine. The same is true for human predation, which consists of riparian populations capturing sea turtle babies, gravid females whose only nesting places are the coasts.

Also, the marine turtle population is strongly threatened by coastal erosion - a phenomenon that is mistakenly considered natural - caused by the uncontrolled collection of sea sand on some beaches; anything that causes degradation of the marine habitat. These factors explain the many fears of researchers and biodiversity conservation organizations about the presence of sea turtles in the waters of our country for the next few years.

Benin's commitment to saving turtles is reflected, among on the consecration of January 8 as an annual awareness-raising day on the protection of endangered species in our country. Many activities are organized to sensitize the different strata of society on the reasons for preserving these species to safeguard the Beninese ecosystem.