STATUS OF RECOVERY PROGRAM 

 LEATHERBACK TURTLES - ATLANTIC POPULATION 



Plan Stage: Final Plan Approved Date: 4/6/92 



SPECIES COVERED 



LEATHERBACK TURTLE (ATLANTIC) 



RECOVERY PLAN STATUS 



NMFS approved and distributed a final recovery plan for leatherback sea turtles in the Atlantic 

 Ocean in 1992. 



RECOVERY ACTIONS 



The major points outlined in the recovery plan are: 



1. Identify and ensure long-term protection of important nesting beaches; 



2. Identify important marine habitat: 



3. Monitor trends in nesting activity on important nesting beaches with standardized 

 surveys; 



4. Evaluate nest success and implement appropriate nest protection measures; 



5. Implement measures to reduce capture and mortality in the shrimp trawl fishery; 



6. Evaluate extent of entanglement in and ingestion of marine debris; and 



7. Implement and enforce MARPOL. 



Analyses of sea turtle strandings have been conducted to monitor the levels of strandings and 

 possible causes of mortality. 



NMFS conducted a coordinated series of research activities to estimate mortality and 

 physiological impacts on marine turtles hooked or entangled by Hawaii's domestic longline 

 fishery. Based on this research, NMFS developed guidelines for handling marine turtles hooked 

 or entangled in the Hawaii longline fishery. 



NMFS is supporting research to develop methods to reduce entanglement of marine turtles in the 

 lobster pot fishery in the northeastern U.S. 



IT 



