NOAA’s Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on a proposed rule to expand critical habitat for the endangered leatherback sea turtle by designating more than 70,000 square miles in three areas in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.
Currently, leatherback critical habitat is the Atlantic coastal waters adjacent to Sandy Point Beach, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The proposed revision would expand critical habitat to include approximately 70,600 square miles (182,854 square km) of marine habitat in the Pacific Ocean off the U.S coast, including two adjacent areas stretching along the California coast from Point Arena to Point Vincente; and one area stretching from Cape Flattery, Wash., to the Umpqua River-Winchester Bay, Ore., east of a line approximating the 2,000m depth contour.
The leatherback sea turtle, the largest marine turtle in the world, was listed as endangered throughout its range in 1970. Leatherbacks have the largest range of any living reptile and occur throughout the oceans of the world. Leatherbacks feed primarily on jellyfish, lay their eggs on tropical and subtropical beaches, and although very little is known about their lifespan, it has been estimated that they may live for 45 years or more. Leatherbacks face many dangers both in the marine environment and on land, including bycatch in fishing gear, habitat destruction and the harvest of eggs and adults on nesting beaches.
Comments and information regarding this proposed rule must be received by 5 March 2010 and can be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
