The U.S. government bought Padre Island from a ranching family in 1968. In an attempt to establish a more protected second nesting site on the National Seashore, eggs were brought from Rancho Nuevo to Padre Island beaches between 1978 and 1988 in hopes that the turtles would return to the island to lay their eggs instead of Rancho Nuevo. The results of this attempt have not yet been determined. In spite of Padre Island's status as a National Seashore, significant environmental pollution problems still exist for sea turtles on Padre Island. Two currents converge on the island bringing milk jugs, plastic tarps, light bulbs, syringes, life jackets, ropes, shampoo bottles, from great distances.
Padre Island receives more debris than any other beach in the United States.
The National Park Service links this extreme pollution directly to the shrimping industry .