NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 03/10/10 -- Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC), the world"s nearly all aged sea turtle research and protection group, today applauded the proposal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to designate Northwest Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles as an endangered class,variety. Until 1998 Northwest Atlantic loggerheads were an Endangered Species Act favorable outcome story. This projected change in rank from endangered to endangered recognizes the dilemma,difficulty,situation of rapidly declining Northwest Atlantic loggerheads, what home on beaches from North Carolina to Texas.
Florida accounts for over 90% of loggerhead nesting in the United States. Protection provided by the Endangered Species Act and exercise of regulations requiring Turtle Excluder Devices in shrimp nets to keep from happening or continuing the drowning of entrapped turtles contributed to bright nesting increases from 1986 to 1998. Since that time, still,nevertheless, nesting during the whole of Florida has declined by nearly 50%. Nesting populations also are declining in the other states, for what long-term secret information is available. "This proposal is long overdue," pronounced David Godfrey, CCC"s Executive Director.
Loggerheads face numerous threats onshore where they home and at sea, but occurrence unexpectedly capture, hurt,harm and death in commercial fisheries is possibly the greatest peril to their survival today. Caribbean Conservation Corporation and other conservation groups over and over again have sounded the alarm about declining numbers of loggerheads. In January, concern about the species was elevated when loggerheads were ominously absent among sea turtles rescued from record cold waters in Florida. Over 4,000 juvenile sea turtles were affected by prolonged very cold temperatures. Unlike previous cold-stun events, when a near even mix of green turtles and loggerheads were impacted, principal part of the turtles found this year were green turtles. The absence of loggerheads among the massive number of turtles rescued raises concerns that juvenile loggerheads, as well as nesting adults, are in decline.
Through its action made widely known Wednesday, March 10, 2010; USFWS and NMFS also propose to list distinct loggerhead populations in the Eastern Atlantic, Southwest Indian Ocean, South Pacific and North Pacific as endangered rather than threatened, reflecting similar grave threats to the species around the world. Because it is the world"s second best remaining assemblage of loggerheads, still,nevertheless, saving Northwest Atlantic loggerheads is critical to the global survival of this class,variety.
"Overwhelming evidence points to occurrence unexpectedly capture in fishing lines, hooks, nets and dredges as the main culprit in these declines," says Godfrey. "International fleets capture, injure and kill tens of thousands of loggerheads on the open sea each year. In U.S. waters, NMFS has allowed our fisheries to kill thousands of big,abundant and small loggerheads rather than sufficiently manage,organize fishing." Loggerheads spend a lot,additional,greater,plenty years in the open very large body of water before settling inside near-shore habitats; the different loggerhead diet of soft invertebrates and hard-shelled animals puts the species at a greater risk from fisheries than any other species of sea turtle. Godfrey warned that much of what has been accomplished over the last three decades for this species will be lost if NMFS does not implement serious fisheries process,system for accomplishing something,tactics changes soon.
From its base in Florida, Caribbean Conservation Corporation has processed for 30 years to protect loggerheads and the habitats on what they depend. The organization has championed the protection of critical nesting sites and promoted realistic,reasonable bordering the water development policies to ensure sea turtles and people can agree on Florida"s beaches. The State of Florida, through its Marine Turtle Protection Act, and a lot,additional,greater,plenty bordering the water governments have enacted strong laws and regulations to protect sea turtles. In current years, CCC expanded its efforts to include comprehensive programs focused on reducing interactions with fisheries. Clearly, much more requirement to be done to protect loggerhead sea turtles in Florida, the United States, and during the whole of the world.
"Despite the projected new endangered rank for this species, loggerheads can still be kept from danger if United States efforts are suitably focused." Godfrey said. "The National Marine Fisheries Service must at once reduce loggerhead capture in fisheries."
Caribbean Conservation Corporation advocates year-round area restrictions for the under the water's surface or partially submerged ledge fish bottom longline fishery in the Gulf of Mexico and long-awaited requirements for Turtle Excluder Devices in U.S. fish net fisheries. In addition, local and state governments must adopt comprehensive changes in bordering the water management policies to ensure adequate protection of nesting beaches, Godfrey additional.
"Caribbean Conservation Corporation will use all means at its disposal to reverse the decline of the loggerhead, what more than any other species is America"s leader sea turtle species," Godfrey pledged. "Our 50-year-long green turtle recovery program in Costa Rica has brought about a 500% increase in nesting of this class,variety. We know in what method,technique or manner to achieve the same results for loggerheads, if the U.S. and other governments have the will."
About Caribbean Conservation Corporation
The Caribbean Conservation Corporation is the world"s nearly all aged sea turtle research and conservation group. An worldwide nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, CCC was founded in 1959 to support the pioneering work of world-renowned wildlife expert and composer of written work, Dr. Archie Carr. Dedicated to ensuring the survival of sea turtles, the Florida-based organization, has grown worldwide programs to raise awareness through research, education, advocacy and the protection of the endangered species, as well as the natural habitats they depend upon. Caribbean Conservation Corporation"s research programs over the past 42 years have yielded much of what is now known about sea turtles, and the important ecological role they play. CCC"s aim,purpose of an action is to restore sea turtle populations so that they continue to bring to completion their ecological roles.
Fact Sheet on Caribbean Conservation Corporation Loggerhead Efforts :
In the late 1980s Caribbean Conservation Corporation was influential,assisting in establishing the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge on Florida"s Mid-Atlantic coast, the nation"s alone,barely,exclusively federal place to hide,have privacy specifically designated to protect sea turtle nesting beaches. Subsequently, we processed with private donors, federal, state, and local governments to identify appropriate,acceptable properties for purchase. Helped form and remain active in the Archie Carr Working Group to address research, education and place to hide,have privacy management.
In 1995, Caribbean Conservation Corporation initiated a campaign to establish the Sea Turtle Specialty License Plate in Florida. The turtle tag is now the top selling conservation tag in the state and is the principal capital beginning,point of supply for Florida"s Marine Turtle Protection Program. The license plate also supports the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program, what is administered by CCC and awards $300,000 occurring,done yearly to support research, conservation and education programs in the state.
Caribbean Conservation Corporation serves on the Technical Advisory Committee of Florida"s developing Habitat Conservation Plan to establish guidelines minimizing impacts to turtles from bordering the water development policies.
In partnership with Brevard County"s Environmentally Endangered Lands Program, CCC manages education programs conducted at the Barrier Island Center -- a state-of-the-art environmental education center situated inside the Archie Carr Refuge.
In 2009, Caribbean Conservation Corporation helped to initiate two lawsuits to halt the murder of thousands of loggerheads taken by commercial bottom long-line fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico. We are actively engaged in reducing sea turtle drowning in fish nets and capture by other fisheries.
Caribbean Conservation Corporation also leads a long-term campaign to correct,rectify bordering the water management policies that fail to protect sea turtles from unwise bordering the water development and sea wall construction on nesting beaches.
Caribbean Conservation Corporation has grown fun new ways to educate the public about sea turtles and encourage,stimulate support for their protection, such as the "Tour de Turtles" -- an online education event based on the satellite-tracked migrations of loggerhead turtles released in Florida (
).
Caribbean Conservation Corporation serves as a clearinghouse for instructional material regarding sea turtle biology and conservation, what is provided for free to bordering the water governments, conservation organizations, tourists, school teachers, and the public.
To view supporting documents and/or photos, go to www.enr-corp.com/pressroom