STATUS OF RECOVERY PROGRAM 



KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLES - ATLANTIC POPULATION 



Plan Stage: Final Plan Approved Date: 9/21/92 



SPECIES COVERED 



KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE (ATLANTIC) 



RECOVERY PLAN STATUS 



NMFS approved and distributed a final recovery plan for Kemp's ridley sea turtles in 1992. 



RECOVERY ACTIONS 



The major points outlined in the recovery plan are: 



1 . Encourage Mexico to expand and codify the Kemp's Ridley Natural Reserve at Rancho 

 Nuevo; 



2. Redefine and codify regulations for better reserve protection; 



3. Encourage Mexico to restrict development that may degrade the nesting habitat; 



4. Identify important marine habitat; 



5. Protect nesting females at Rancho Nuevo; 



6. Protect nests and increase hatchling protection at Rancho Nuevo; 



7. Monitor population trends at Rancho Nuevo; 



8. Determine juvenile and subadult nearshore habitat use; 



9. Determine migration routes and foraging areas of adults; 



10. Enforce and expand TED regulations; 



1 1 . Enforce the trawling prohibitions near Rancho Nuevo; and 



12. Promote TED use in Mexico. 



NMFS has made a major effort to reduce Kemp's ridley mortality in shrimp trawl fisheries by 

 improving regulations that require the use of turtle excluder devices (TEDs). In addition. NMFS 

 has provided technical assistance to the Government of Mexico on TED utilization. 



Projects are being conducted to determine species composition, relative abundance, and seasonal 

 distribution in Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico waters. A continuing project to determine 

 distribution and species composition is being carried out in the Cedar Key area of Florida's west 

 coast. Historically, this area supported large numbers of Kemp's ridleys. 



NMFS laboratories are conducting research on sea turtle habitat utilization in the Gulf of 

 Mexico. The project focuses on known sea turtle developmental habitats. Kemp's ridleys are 

 tracked with radio and sonic transmitters to determine their temporal and spacial utilization of 

 these areas. 



