Read the following passage about A GLOBAL CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORY and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the b...

Read the following passage about A GLOBAL CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORY and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

Marine biologists have long monitored chelonian species inhabiting our oceans, and recent findings offer encouraging news. A comprehensive international assessment reveals that most sea turtle populations are experiencing remarkable recovery following decades of severe depletion caused by excessive hunting, habitat destruction, and fishery-related mortality. This extensive evaluation, encompassing nesting beach records and supplementary datasets across all seven recognized species, demonstrates that sustained preservation efforts can yield positive outcomes despite ongoing oceanic transformations.

The investigation uncovered that statistically significant population increases substantially outnumber documented declines, particularly evident in updated 2024 compilations. Enhanced protective measures at numerous nesting locations—including diminished artificial illumination, curtailed poaching activities, and fishery regulations minimizing incidental capture—have facilitated greater reproductive success. Four among five regional green turtle groups exhibit upward trajectories, while loggerhead nesting sites frequently display dramatic resurgence. Cape Verde's loggerhead nests, for instance, surged from approximately five hundred to thirty-five thousand annually between 2008 and 2020.

Nevertheless, certain populations remain imperiled. Pacific leatherbacks, alongside some Caribbean counterparts, continue experiencing worrying deterioration despite broader conservation achievements. Scientists additionally emphasize climatic threats confronting these ancient reptiles; elevated sand temperatures increasingly skew their hatchling sex ratios toward females, potentially disrupting future breeding dynamics. Some populations may nevertheless adapt through temporal or geographical nesting adjustments, selecting cooler periods or alternative locations.

Researchers have outlined priority actions for the forthcoming decades. These encompass strengthening climate resilience mechanisms, further reducing bycatch alongside traditional hunting pressures, mitigating plastic contamination and pollution impacts, and safeguarding critical foraging environments. Seagrass meadows, serving as essential feeding grounds for multiple species, require particular restoration attention. While challenges persist, this comprehensive review confirms that dedicated, prolonged conservation investment can reverse seemingly inexorable population declines affecting vulnerable marine species.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/z

Question 23: According to the passage, which of the following is NOT MENTIONED as a factor contributing to the historical depletion of sea turtle populations?

A. Excessive hunting practices

B. Habitat destruction

C. Fishery-related mortality

D. Plastic contamination