1) A relatively uniform population structure exists for 

 loggerheads inhabiting coastal waters of the 

 southeastern United States; 



2) Loggerheads do not leave the pelagic environment to 

 enter coastal waters until they are at least 4 cm in 

 length, 



3) Pelagic-stage green turtles are recruited into Florida 

 coastal waters at a smaller size than are loggerheads, 



4) Florida coastal waters serve as an intermediate habitat 

 for green turtles leaving the pelagic environment to 

 enter lagoonal feeding grounds, and 



5) Maturing sub-adult green turtles (70-90 cm SLCL) are 

 generally absent from Florida coastal waters. 



Seasonal data from the St. Lucie Plant suggests that 

 movements of immature loggerhead and green turtles increase 

 during the winter, probably in response to changing environmental 

 conditions and/or environmental requirements. Increased captures 

 of adult loggerheads during the summer presumably reflect 

 increased movements of adult females en route to nesting beaches 

 on Hutchinson Island and adjacent barrier islands. 



335 



