Saving the Eastern Pacific Leatherback Turtles in 10 Years

Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), the largest turtle in the ocean, got its name from its tough, rubbery skin. They are the largest of all sea turtles, with length spanning to over 6 ft(2 m) and weighing up to 2,000 lb (900 kg). Migrating long-distance per year, the population of these turtles look grim as they get tangled in fishing gears, among other threats. Conservation groups predict that if conservation measures aren't done anytime soon, the critically endangered Eastern Pacific leatherback turtle will vanish within 60 years.

Flora and Fauna International (FFI), a group of conservation scientists and organizations, said that putting in place measures in the next ten years is needed to save it.

"We have it within our power to protect these animals and enable them to thrive, but all those who have a hand in shaping their future need to work together to do so," said Alison Gunn, program manager for the Americas and the Caribbean at FFI.

Leatherback turtles are found across the world. Although they are considered a single species, populations in different oceans are considered distinct. Leatherbacks in the Pacific are at the risk of extinction.

Mexico and Costa Rica are the critical nesting habitats for Eastern Pacific, with some isolated nesting in Panama and Nicaragua. There had been a greater than 90 percent decline of the female nesting population over the last three generations in this area.

Gunn said if this population is gone, it is irreplaceable because of its distinctiveness in this part of the ocean. Gunn also reported that there is a lot of conservation action happening now and that there is a need to increase the collaboration with the current efforts to ensure that this particular population is not lost.

Key Interventions

In the next ten years, these things must be achieved to save the Eastern Pacific Leatherback Turtles:

• Avoiding 'by-catch' or the catching of unwanted marine creatures during commercial fishing for a different species which has caused 200-260 leatherback deaths per year.
• Target the production of hatchlings to 7,000 - 8,000 or more a year by providing better nest protection and improving the incubation conditions.
• If these conservation efforts, which are based on a population model, are targeted and scaled up at high-priority sites. Projects are quickly implemented and maintained can eventually stabilize and increase the population of the Eastern Pacific leatherback.
• Reduce marine debris that may entangle or may be eaten by the sea turtles
• Use reusable water bottles and shopping bags. Avoid using balloons as they will likely end up in the ocean where sea turtles may consume them
• Keep fishing gears away from the oceans. Leaving hooks, lines or nets in the water can entangle and kill sea turtles
• Make nesting sites safe for sea turtles. Keep lights, shield off, or visible from the beach as lights disorient hatchling sea turtles and discourage nesting females from coming onto the beach to lay their eggs.

The population of leatherbacks in the Eastern Pacific has declined by more than 90% since the 1980s, thus making it to the Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.