Leatherback sea turtle

The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) belongs to the order Testudines and the family Dermochelyidae. As the largest of all living turtles, its presence near agricultural coastal zones presents unique challenges for local farmers whose fields are located adjacent to nesting beaches.

While not a herbivore that targets crops, the species is considered a nuisance in specific coastal agricultural settings. Its primary interaction with agronomic landscapes is limited to the nesting period, when adult turtles move inland across cultivated coastal terrain, inadvertently damaging plant life and infrastructure.

The life cycle involves long-distance migrations and periodic nesting on sandy beaches. During these intervals, the sheer physical size of the female turtles, which can weigh over half a ton, causes significant soil compaction and direct physical destruction of agricultural crops planted on dunes or coastal fringes.

The nature of damage is mechanical rather than nutritional. Damage includes uprooting of seedlings, crushing of stalks, and significant soil degradation through repeated trampling. The economic impact is felt through reduced crop yields and the necessity for farmers to repair damaged irrigation and planting structures.

Protective measures are focused on mitigation rather than extermination, given the species' protected status. Effective agricultural management involves the installation of perimeter fencing that allows for turtle exclusion, the establishment of buffer strips between fields and beaches, and zoning agricultural activities away from known high-density nesting corridors.