Green Sea Turtle — Red Sea, Egypt
Chelonia mydas
Quick Fact
Green sea turtles are the ocean's lawnmowers — their grazing keeps seagrass beds short and healthy, increasing productivity and providing habitat for hundreds of other species.
Filmed during Rowan Byrne's fieldwork in the Red Sea, Egypt.
About This Species
The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is the only herbivorous sea turtle, feeding primarily on seagrass and algae. The Red Sea is one of the world's most important green turtle habitats, with significant populations feeding in its seagrass meadows. Green turtles play a critical ecological role — their grazing keeps seagrass beds healthy and productive. They are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, threatened by bycatch, coastal development, and the degradation of their seagrass feeding grounds.
Why It Matters
The decline of green sea turtles has cascading effects on seagrass ecosystems. Protecting both the turtles and their feeding grounds is essential for the health of coastal marine environments.
Transcript
The Red Sea is one of the most biodiverse marine environments on Earth. And one of the great privileges of diving here is the chance to encounter green sea turtles in their natural habitat. I've spent time diving at Abu Dabbab and Marsa Alam in Egypt — two of the best places in the world to see green turtles feeding on seagrass meadows in shallow, clear water. They're remarkably relaxed around divers if you approach slowly and give them space. Green turtles are named not for the colour of their shell — which is actually brown or olive — but for the colour of their fat, which comes from their seagrass diet. They're the only sea turtle species that is primarily herbivorous as an adult. And that diet makes them ecologically critical. By grazing seagrass, they keep the meadows healthy and productive. Seagrass is one of the most important carbon sinks on the planet — and green turtles are its gardeners. Green turtles are listed as Endangered globally. In the Red Sea, they face threats from coastal development, boat strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and the illegal collection of eggs. Egypt has made progress in protecting key nesting beaches. But enforcement is inconsistent and the pressures are growing. Every green turtle you see in the Red Sea is a survivor. Treat them with the respect they've earned.