The Ride of His Life When Jesse Senko was 12 years old, he had an experience that literally changed his life. Senko was snorkeling while on vacation in the Cayman Islands with his family when a large sea turtle swam near him. Senko naturally did what any 12-year-old boy would do and decided to grab the turtle and go for a ride. That turtle ride, in some ways, has never ended. People find their passions in many different ways. Senko found his passion while riding on the back of a turtle when he was just 12 years old.

Today, Senko is a conservation scientist at Arizona State University. He focuses his research and life’s work on marine resource sustainability. Can you guess what that includes? If you guessed sea turtles, you would be correct. In college, Senko majored in fisheries and wildlife science, and he also received a Master of Science degree in wildlife ecology. Much of the focus of his work is on saving endangered sea turtles.

Sea turtles help keep the ocean healthy, and thus their well-being affects the entire ecosystem. They provide a natural regulatory system for the environment. For example, sea turtles eat seagrass, which helps it grow properly, and their unhatched eggs provide nutrients for plant life to keep beaches healthy. Sea turtles also provide a home for small animals that attach to their shells.

Sea turtles are endangered because fishermen inadvertently catch them in their nets, which can cause the turtles irreparable harm. Senko came up with the idea to create solar-powered fishing nets so fishermen can readily see when they accidentally catch a sea turtle. Because the lights are solar powered, the fishermen do not have to maintain the lights or change the batteries. This technology has resulted in a 65 percent reduction in sea turtle catches thus far. Senko’s goal is a 100 percent reduction.

What does sustainability mean as it is used in this sentence from "The Ride of His Life"?

He focuses his research and life's work on marine resource sustainability.

process by which organisms use sunlight to create food

ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level

surroundings in which a person or animal lives

action of converting waste into reusable material