More than 70,000 square miles of habitat has been proposed for critically endangered leatherback turtles in U.S. waters off California, Oregon, and Washington.
Endangered species protection finally advances in favor of leatherback turtles: The National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a proposal today for 70,000 square miles of critical habitat in the waters off the U.S. Pacific Coast.
The proposal was the result of a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, Oceana, and Turtle Island Restoration Network.
The critical habitat proposal comes after a lengthy series of efforts to protect leatherbacks off the U.S. West Coast. Oceana, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Turtle Island Restoration Network submitted a petition for the designation of critical habitat for Pacific leatherbacks on September 26, 2007.
Ben Enticknap, Pacific Project Manager for Oceana, said via the Center for Biological Diversity that the proposal is a step in the right direction.
We have a duty to protect Pacific leatherbacks when they visit our shores, and today’s action brings us ever closer to fulfilling that obligation.
Critical habitat designation provides another tool for protecting these ancient creatures, but their survival still hinges on the U.S. fully protecting them in our waters to set policy precedent for the world.
However, today’s proposal failed to address a primary threat to marine turtle survival: Commercial fishing gear entanglement.
Attorney Andrea Treece with the Center for Biological Diversity noted that the proposal excluded the issue of commercial fishing gear entanglement, which is a leading cause of death for leatherbacks.
Today’s proposal marks the first step in making sure these giant turtles have a safe and productive place to feed after their amazing swim across the entire Pacific Ocean.
Now the government needs to take the next step and improve its proposal by incorporating more of the species’ key habitat areas and addressing one of the worst threats to leatherback survival – entanglement in commercial fishing gear.
The proposal, if finalized, will mark the first time ocean waters off the continental U.S. will be designated as critical habitat for marine turtles.
Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea)
As the world’s largest turtle, leatherbacks can reach 6.5 feet (2 m) in length and weigh about 2,000 lbs (900 kg).
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies the leatherback turtle as Critically Endangered (CR) – just one click away from Extinct in the Wild (EW).
To learn more about how you can help critically endangered leatherback turtles, please visit:
Photo: Scott R. Benson, NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center
About Rhishja Cota-Larson
