This combination of species conservation and local utilitization may be a model for other places. Hatcheries and headstarting are two programs aimed at increasing survival of sea turtles in the wild. Hatchery programs are intended primarily to protect eggs from predators. The programs typically consist of gathering eggs from the beach and reburying them in a fenced enclosure. After the eggs hatch, the hatchlings are released onto the same beach from which the eggs were gathered.
Headstarting projects go one step further.
After collecting and hatching eggs from the wild, the sea turtles are reared in captivity for nine months to a year. Once the young turtles have reached a size more able to survive predation, they are released onto their natal beaches. Reduce Mortality in Fishing Nets Steps are being taken to reduce the deaths of sea turtles in fishing nets. Since 1989, federal regulations in the United States require the use of Turtle Excluder Devices, or TEDs, on shrimp trawl nets. TEDs are grates that allow shrimp to pass into the net while turtles escape through a trap door.