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

 possible causes of mortality. 



Physiological research has been conducted on the effects of forced submergence on Kemp's 

 ridleys. 



NMFS fully funded and participated in the Turtle Expert Working Group (TEWG) which 

 compiled and examined information on the status of the loggerhead and Kemp"s ridley turtles 

 and produced a status report for those turtle species. 



RECOVERY GOALS 



Because of Kemp's ridleys' aggregated nesting behavior, restricted breeding range, and 

 increasing threats from the expanding global human population and general environmental 

 degradation, complete recover)' (delisting) may not be achievable. Since the principal nesting 

 beach is in Mexico, continued, long-term cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico is necessary 

 to recover the species. The goal of this recoven.' plan is to upgrade the species from endangered 

 to threatened status. Criteria for delisting will be addressed in future revisions of the recovery- 

 plan. 



Criteria for upgrading the status are as follows: 



L Continue complete and active protection of the known nesting habitat, and the waters 



adjacent to the nesting beach concentrating on the Rancho Nuevo area) and continue the 

 bi-national protection project; 



2. Eliminate mortality from incidental catch in commercial shrimping in the United States 

 and Mexico through use of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) and achieve full compliance 

 with the regulations requiring TED use; 



3. Attain a population of at least 10.000 nesting females per year; and 



4. Successfully implement all priority 1 recovery tasks. 



