1999 

 NATIONAL OVERVIEW 



Sea Turtles ESA status For all species of sea turtles remains unchanged from their initial 

 listings in the 1970's, but progress has been made in developing new trend data and sepa- 

 ration ot populations. Improvements over 1992 include estimates of nesting females now 

 available tor the Atlantic populations of leatherback, and tor several nesting populations in 

 the Pacific ot the leatherback, loggerhead, and olive ridley. Recent work in genetic stock 

 identification has identified three loggerhead populations in the southeastern United States 

 and a tourth oft Mexico's Yucatan Coast. 



Recent assessments suggest improving conditions in several stocks. Green turtles con- 

 tinue to increase trom 1992 levels throughout their U.S. range. Increases were also ob- 

 served for central-southwest Florida loggerhead (trom stable in 1992), and tor olive ridley 

 in the Pacific (trom unknown in 1992). Conservation ettorts tor the Atlantic Kemp's ridley 

 has reversed an estimated 3"o annual rate of decline (since 1978) to a sustained increase in 

 the number ot nests beginning in the early 199()'s. The leatherback has gone trom un- 

 known status throughout its U.S. range to stable in the Atlantic but declining in the Pa- 

 cific. The Pacit'ic stocks ot loggerhead and hawksbill are now considered stable relative to 

 unknown status in 1 992. Less promising circumstances are noted tor two loggerhead stocks 

 (northern Florida-North Carolina and Florida Panhandle) and the Atlantic hawksbill as 

 thev are in declining or unknown status. 



ISSUES OF NATIONAL CONCERN 



The management ot living marine resources is complex and involves many biologi- 

 cal, economic, social, and political factors. Each region and fishery discussed in this report, 

 even those fisheries that arc currently well managed and yielding near their long-term po- 

 tential for the national benetlt, must continually adjust and adapt to ever-changing condi- 

 tions. To increase long-term benefits from currently overutilized and depleted fishery re- 

 sources, the diftlcult issues and practices, which have resulted in overutilization and re- 

 source depletion must be confronted. In all 2S units, major issues attecting the resources 

 and their management are raised. Although each resource unit has unique teatures, com- 

 mon themes are signitlcant to many, it not all ot them; they are discussed below. 



3 9 



