06/15/2025
š¢ It doesn't have to be a special day to keep the turtles safe and the water clean
š¢ Happy Kempās Ridley Day! š¢
Today weāre celebrating the Kempās ridley sea turtleāthe smallest and most endangered sea turtle in the world.
š Found mostly in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic U.S. coast, these incredible turtles are known for their synchronized, daytime nesting events called arribadas, where hundreds of females come ashore at once to lay their eggs.
š§ Fun fact: Adult Kempās ridleys only grow to about 2 feet long and weigh 70ā100 lbsāmaking them tiny powerhouses of the sea!
šØ Threats to Kempās Ridleys:
ā Bycatch in fishing gear (especially shrimp trawls)
ā Habitat loss and development on nesting beaches
ā Marine debris and plastic pollution
ā Climate change, which affects hatchling s*x ratios and nesting success
š Clean Virginia Waterways works daily to combat marine debris, one of the major threats to these and other sea turtles, through cleanups, education, and outreach programs like Keep It Beachy Clean.
Letās work together to protect the most vulnerable among usābecause saving sea turtles means saving our oceans. š