Loggerhead Sea Turtle Listing Divided Into Nine Distinct Population Segments
Posted in Listing

In 1978, the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.  On September 16, 2011, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) issued a Final Rule revising the listing for the Loggerhead Sea Turtle from a single threatened species to nine distinct population segments.  In the Final Rule five distinct population segments were listed as endangered and four were listed as threatened.  Jim Lecky, director of protected species at NOAA Fisheries, stated that the "division of loggerhead sea turtles into nine distinct population segments will help us focus more on the individual threats turtles face in different areas."  This assessment was echoed by Cindy Dohner, the Service's southeast regional director, who stated that "[t]oday's listing of separate distinct population segments will help us better assess, monitor, and address threats, and evaluate conservation successes, on a regional scale."   The Final Rule notes that in the future, the Service and NOAA will propose to designate critical habitat for the two distinct population segments occurring within the United States. 

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Tags: Listing
  • Benjamin Z. Rubin
    Partner

    Ben Rubin is chair of Nossaman’s Environment & Land Use Group. Ben assists developers, public agencies, landowners and corporate clients on a variety of complex land use and environmental matters. He counsels clients on matters ...

Nossaman’s Endangered Species Law & Policy blog focuses on news, events, and policies affecting endangered species issues in California and throughout the United States. Topics include listing and critical habitat decisions, conservation and recovery planning, inter-agency consultation, and related developments in law, policy, and science. We also inform readers about regulatory and legislative developments, as well as key court decisions.

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