One of the few mother leatherback sea turtles coming to lay eggs

News & Events

One of the Goals and Objectives on behalf of the Leatherback turtle is to monitor the commercial fishing industry in USA waters and ensure that our marine sanctuaries along both Atlantic and Pacific coasts remain protected.

The reauthorized Magnusson-Stevens Act appoints the US Department of Commerce as the steward of maintaining a balance between the protection of marine ecosystems and the commercial fishing industry. Unfortunately, the “balance” appears to favor fisheries.

SOLO and other conservation organizations along with the general public must make our voice heard to ensure that sea turtles and other keystone marine species are protected against commercial fisheries and their notoriously destructive fishing practices such as drift and gill nets and long lines. SOLO’s efforts to protect Leatherbacks are compromised by their migration across the wide Pacific Ocean into US waters for up to 4 months each year. There may only be between 300-400 Pacific Leatherbacks remaining in existence today. The loss of even one heavily impacts the future of this species’ survival.

The following are some of the recent actions that SOLO has taken to ensure that the public’s voice is heard by the US government. These actions have been successful, and we will continue to take action to protect Pacific Leatherback turtles in US waters and will inform you when your help is needed to support our cause by sending letters, etc. to the government agencies. Our collective “voice” on behalf of the Leatherbacks and other marine life is a powerful tool to help protect our marine ecosystems.

The following are SOLO communications conducted to protect the Leatherback sea turtle in US waters:

In Opposition to NOAA Permits to allow long liners to enter the Florida East Coast fishing grounds and the Charleston "Bump". Both are in protected fish sanctuaries.

In Opposition to NOAA RIN 0648-XH38 plans to allow long liners into California protected (for over 15 years) Marine Sanctuary.

12/11/07 - Reply from the California Coastal Commission regarding opening marine protected areas to commerical longline fishing: "Consistency Certification for Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) for longline fishing in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the California coast' (DOC)

12/4/07- 2nd Opposition Letter to the California Coastal Commission (CCC) regarding opening marine protected areas to commerical longline fishing to protect the endangered leatherback sea turtle (PDF)

7/10/2007 - Opposition to Issue Exempted Fishing Permits (EFP) to Any and All Long Line Fishing Along the California and Oregon Coasts (PDF)

Our Newsletter

We are excited to provide you with our latest Leatherback Turtle News. Our newsletter has been a long time in development. Thanks to Liz Logan, it is now a reality.

We plan to publish each edition at least 2 times a year; maybe more - by e-mail. Positive and productive comments are welcome as are any inputs for Articles.

Any suggested article should be with clear .jpg photos at 300 ppi and word count less than 500.

Send to us at e-mail address: info@saveourleatherbacks.org

To read the current LEATHERBACK TURTLE NEWS LETTER, click here: LEATHERBACK TURTLE NEWS

SOLO Press

PRESS RELEASE #10
For Immediate Distribution. Kingwood, TX, Feb 6, 2007

HUGE JELLY FISH SWARM KILLS IRISH SALMON STOCKS

Mauve Stinger Jellyfish

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: An enormous oceanic “pink ocean cloud of death” invaded the Irish salmon pens off Glenarm Bay and Cushendun. The jellyfish, known as Mauve Stingers flooded into the salmon ocean fish cages and destroyed ALL the fish. This swarm was estimated to span about 16 square km (about 18 square miles) in area and 11 m deep (about 40 feet). Locals said…”The sea was RED with jellyfish”.

After floating away from Ireland waters, this swarm is probably larger now and will appear (if not happening already) in another Atlantic food fish area and will destroy whatever they contact.

This news release heralds the salmon loss to the jellyfish masses now in several oceans and seas and are multiplying out of sight of man. The destruction will occur with increased frequency as a DIRECT result of the wanton slaughter of the Leatherback sea turtle throughout the ocean. For three (3) years we have been warning our audiences that soon, we will begin to see a lessening of our fish food stocks in the seas IF the Leatherback slaughters continue.

NOW THIS ALERT IS REALITY!

The Leatherback sea turtle eats almost entirely jellyfish. Each day it must consume its weight of compressed jellyfish. A mature male weighs in excess of 3,000 pounds. With the destruction by commercial longline fishing, Leatherback populations have decreased alarmingly over the past 25 years and are continuing. Today in the vast Pacific Ocean, less than 600 nesting females remain.

This Leatherback is at the top of the Ocean symbiotic structure of Marine life. Destroy it and the balance of the ocean is irreparably damaged. Many more incidents of out-of-control ocean life will follow. Soon, cans of tuna will not be in our markets.

Want to know more and HOW to reverse this encroaching situation? E-mail us: info@saveourleatherbacks.org

“The Himalayan”; p.6 Nov. 24, 2007. Kathmandu, Nepal

PRESS RELEASE #9
For Immediate Distribution. Kingwood, TX, Feb 6, 2007

Pacific Leatherback turtles continue to be slaughtered by the Asian Long Line Fishing Fleets every hour of every day. NO one has any control of the operations of these boats. Here in U.S.A. the National Marine Fisheries Service (a NEW Name for NOAA) is directly responsible for regulating the fishing and marine environmental activities in all U.S. waters, including those of Trust Territories to a 200 mile limit.

The heavy money interests of the U.S. flagged fishing boats (including Long Liners) continue to pressure and sway OUR Government representatives to changing the rules of who can fish and where to the detriment of sea creatures. NMFS is attempting right now — to alter the rules of where boats can fish in costal protected marine preserves and in Hawaii waters to allow boats to fish longer beyond their permit limits AND to kill more creatures, as the endangered Leatherback turtles. This is WRONG! In the situation of the Leatherbacks, it is DEAD wrong.

Below is a letter written against this prevalent policy of catering to fishermen and against our established Laws and Rules which protect the ocean creatures in OUR territorial waters. This campaign is managed by Sea turtles Restoration Project. (www.seaturtles.org). We have joined their campaign — because it makes sense to STOP these actions. Support us by telling your friends.

SAVE OUR LEATHERBACKS OPERATION (SOLO)

A Non Profit Public Charity Approved by IRS Code 501(c)(3) and Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act
4582 East Kingwood Drive, Suite #143
Kingwood, Texas 77345 USA
Ph/FAX: 281-361-4492
E-Mail: info@saveourleatherbacks.org
Web Site: www.saveourleatherbacks.org

Mr. William Robinson
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

Re: Support of Removing the 7 Day Delay in Closing the Hawaii Shallow Based Long Line Fishing Industry

Dear Mr. Robinson:

I have responded via Sea Turtle Restoration Project along with hundreds of other concerned citizens in support of the abolition of this 7 day closure practice which benefits the Hawaii Long Line fishers and is totally against all Law and precedent established to protect critically endangered marine creatures; as the Pacific Leatherback turtle and loggerhead turtles.

I write this separate letter to you in further support and possibly to provide some education for you as to what a Leatherback "interaction" is in truth and in fact. See photo below:

AN "INTERACTION" (A SLAUGHTER) IN SIMPLE TERMS

Perhaps those who write you do not adequately explain the situation, so you have a clear understanding from your desk of the severity of the issues. The above photo communicates MORE than words can express. This Giant Male Leatherback turtle ran into the fishing lines and buoys. He fought for his freedom and was killed in the process. This, Sir, is an "Interaction".

We oppose any move by NMFS to permit this 7 day extension for ANY reason as it is quite clear that technology via radio and satellite phones can communicate to the fishing boats quickly to STOP fishing on the appointed day and time.

Further, of a more critical concern is to permit long line boats who operate under a USA flag to catch/hook/snag (INTERACT WITH) ANY Leatherback turtles in US waters.

The population of the adult Leatherback is seriously depleted. This is directly because of long line boat destruction of the turtles. In addition, the nesting of replenishment stocks in the far Pacific is well below any sustainable rate to insure specie survival. Together the situation will absolutely doom the species — in maybe 3 to 4 years based on our available data.

Your Agency is a direct representative of the American tax payer who funds NMFS and is directed to apply your assets in compliance of the existing Laws and Court decisions in favor of conserving this species. We request you place the full attention of NMFS to do just this, vs. favoring the moneyed wishes of fishermen.

This Leatherback turtle MUST be saved. There needs to be a technology developed and fully tested to allow the fishermen and the "By Catch or Interactions" with marine life to cease. Until this occurs, Long Line fishing MUST avoid contact with these turtles. There is no other solution at present.

Sincerely,

Larry McKenna
SOLO Founding Director

Bali, Indonesia For Immediate distribuion, January 28, 2006

A male Leatherback turtle, about ½ grown (350kgs) and almost 2 meters long came ashore near Venus Bay , southeast of Melbourne, Australia on January 16, 2005.

He came to die. The turtle was entangled in long lines (from long line fishing boats) and support buoys which were also wrapped around its neck and pectoral fins (Front flippers).

A local farming family assisted wildlife officers and two Veterinarians from the Melbourne Zoo and surf lifeguards to cut away the ropes and, using a bear net supplied by the Zoo, pulled the turtle on to a mattress and then into a truck for transport to the Melbourne Aquarium for treatment.

The turtle had multiple cuts to its head; severe rope burns and a serious case of gangrenous muscles in deep holes in both front fins. The photo insert shows the worst of these. When located on the beach, the turtle was alive; but barely. Its condition was judged as “extremely poor” by the Vets. It died enroute to the Zoo.

The large hole and another smaller one on the opposite flipper were probably caused by repeated and lengthy abrasions from the long line ropes. Gangrene was present and would probably (in the opinion of the attending Vets) progress. The muscle tissue was severely infected. On handling in attempts to treat the wounds, the tissue turned into “mush”. The hole was approximately 12 cm deep. From 1/3 to ½ of the muscle that controlled the flipper was infected and degrading. The attending Vets offered an opinion that, had the turtle succeeded in freeing itself, death would have occurred because of the infections.

The destruction of a single Leatherback turtle may not appear as a significant marine and environmental tragedy. But it is . The Pacific Leatherback population in 2000 was estimated at about 3,000 nesting females (meaning females who reached the egg laying maturity of 15 to 20 years). The by catch by long line fishing boats is killing them every day. No observers are allowed on the boats to monitor by catches, so an estimate of how many are destroyed is difficult. The long line boat crews report to me that the damaged and killed turtles are tossed overboard well at sea so no evidence remains when the boats come to a harbor. (Japanese long Line crews interviewed in Benoa Harbor, Bali, Indonesia )

We look to the comparison of numbers of females who come to the Indonesian beaches each year as a measure, though imperfect, of how many females are left. Each year this number dwindles drastically. In 2005, there were ONLY 108 females which returned. (375 in 2003 and 154 in 2004). Scientists now state that when a female nests and heads back to sea… IT WILL NEVER RETURN because it will be killed by a long line boat as a tuna or swordfish by catch (Dr. Jim Spotila web pages).

Efforts to cause the 5,000+ long line ships to alter the ways they take food fish to reduce the by catch slaughter is an issue for the politicians and the bankers. The more important correction WE as world citizens can effect is at the nesting beaches. The hatch out rate of the eggs has plummeted in 2 years to well below any sustainable survival rate. In 2003, as an example, approximately 85% of the eggs hatched and babies went to the sea. In the last 2 years (2004 and 2005) the hatch out rate is between 10 and 15%. An estimate ratio of survival at sea to hatchlings strongly indicates the species is in a severe negative spiral toward a far more rapid extinction that previously estimated.

Unless this hatch out % corrected, the Leatherbacks will vanish from the oceans, regardless of by catch destruction by long liners. THIS is why the loss of 1 Leatherback is now so significant. The loses of sharks (90+ %) and leatherbacks (95+ %) have allowed the lower fishes and organisms to blossom and upset the 100 million + years of established symbiotic ocean creature relationships.

Bali, Indonesia For Immediate Release, January 10, 2006

NOW IT IS HAPPENING!

Swarms of jellyfish in several species infested beaches along the east coast of the USA during the 2005 summer season, including the lethal ‘box jelly’. Young people were bitten and killed (in some instances) by the swamp living dog shark which ventured into the Gulf of Mexico waters to expand where white and black tip reef sharks kept them in territorial balance before shark killers decimated the species. In Queensland, Australia a record number of beach goers and swimmers were stung by the irukandji jelly fish (38 since October, 2005 as compared to 1 sting reported in 2004). Of the 38 sting attacks, 2 people died. (The Australian, 12/22/2005 report). These man killers are less than 3 cm (about 1 inch) long and carry a lethal cardiac poison. No antidote is available.

These incidents are a part of the expanding ‘cause and effect’ from the wanton destruction of both the sharks (90+% now destroyed) and the Leatherback turtles (95+% destroyed). The culprits are primarily fueled by shark fin demands of Asian restaurants and the greed of long line fishing boats who are scouring the seas of tuna and sword fishes with monumental by-catch destructions as they steam wing in wing across up to 60 lateral miles of ocean in each pass; changing millions of hooks 4 times every day and night. There are now MORE than 5,000 long line boats at sea primarily owned and operated by 4 Asian Nations.

The scientific communities have warned and warned of the consequences of the destructions of the shark and the leatherback turtles for several years. Money and political interests and funding by the World Bank consortiums continue to ignore the critical environmental destruction, even from within their own castles.

On November 28, 2005 the United Nations finally passed a non binding resolution to reduce the numbers of long line boats. In Pohnpei, Micronesia, the follow up meeting from the U.N. resolution conference to set long line restrictions and a reduction of the fishing boats was stabbed and sabotaged by Japan and its fishing allies (Indonesia and Taiwan delegates — see SOLO Press Release # 3, December 18, 2005).

The planned agenda for the Council of Western and Central Fisheries conference was to establish mandatory rules to protect the leatherback turtle migration routes to detour long line ships away from these documented (by NOAA) routes while the turtles are in transit from Central America to Indonesia waters to nest. The end result forced by Japan (the 2nd largest long line operator behind Taiwan) ended with a “voluntary” agreement of no consequence.

During this same time period, the Japan Fisheries sent whale factory ships to Antarctica in Australian controlled waters to slaughter minke whales for foods under the guise of research. Australia sat on their thumbs and took no action. Green Peace and Sea Shepherd engaged the Japan whaling flotilla with minimum success. The whales were killed.

The careful balance of sea creatures has been evolving for well over 100 millions of years to establish the interactions of the marine life. The leatherback turtle often ONLY food supply is the jelly fish. As these giant turtles disappear from the oceans, the jelly fish will (as has been warned by many) will blossom and flourish. NOW IT IS HAPPENING.

Where eons were required to develop Nature’s balance in the oceans, the actions by the long line and shark fleets in a few years have practically depleted the tops of the food chains and have precipitated the dangerous presences of the once controlled organisms and fishes which will do increasing damages and human threats along the World’s beaches and in the oceans.

There MAY still be time to STOP these actions by a few who have no concern for the sea environment and will not cease until they rape and destroy all existing sea life in pursuit of secular agendas. Soon, the World supply of tuna and other primary food fish will be exhausted. The trash fish and jelly fish will CONTINUE to invade the waters where there used to be a balance.

Bali, Indonesia For Immediate Release, December 18, 2005

We have received the following Press release concerning the Japanese position at the just completed Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission meeting on Phonpei, Micronesia. The actions in this meeting by the Japanese Fisheries delegation have torpedoed and subverted the actions and intent by the United Nations General Assembly (the U.N.) decision on November 28, 2005. The U.N. calls for closures of fishing activities in areas where endangered species are caught or killed as a compromise to wide spread calls for a complete moratorium.

The Japanese actions and as was supported by the Indonesian and Taiwan delegations actively subvert the meaning and intent of the U.N. decision. What does this mean to the survival of the Leatherback Turtle? Simply, the at sea killing will continue by the combined armadas of over 5,000 long line boats which have no respect for the published turtle migration routes.

Emphasis on the planned SOLO activities at the nesting beaches now becomes far more acute to improve the nest to hatch out ratios so that more turtles go to the sea than has been reported in 2004 and 2005 (between 10% and 15% of eggs laid) to the pre 2004 data of 70% to 85%.

This action now is VERY CRITICAL to improve the chances of specie survival. The time left is NOT, NOT 5 to 30 years. The time zone is between 2 to 3 years, if nothing is done.

HELP US, PLEASE to reverse this rapid spiral to extinction. Funds are needed before May 2006

US and Pacific Island's Plan is Sabotaged by Japan
December 16, 2005

Pohnpei, Micronesia — This week Japan undermined the new Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission's initiative to protect endangered sea turtles. Japan's delegation rebuffed calls by the United States, Forum FisheriesAgency (an organization of Pacific island States), United Nations, the FAO and environmentalists to implement a Mandatory plan to reduce the injury and killing of endangered sea turtles by longline fishing in the Pacific. Some of the last remaining leatherback beaches lie in the management area of the Commission and the turtle is documented to migrate throughout the area.

"Due to obstruction by the Japanese delegation, the comprehensive plan Proposed by the United States and the Forum Fisheries Agency to protect Endangered sea turtles from longlines were not passed as a mandatory measure To be implemented by all member states," said Robert Ovetz, Ph.D. Save the Leatherback Campaign Coordinator of the US based Sea Turtle Restoration Project who is attending the second meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission in Micronesia this week. Although Article 61(c) Requires that the Commission adopt plans to protect non-target species such as sea turtles from destructive fishing practices such as longlines, the Japanese Delegation managed to amend the proposed plan to make it voluntary.

On November 28th, the United Nations General Assembly passed a sustainable Fisheries resolution that calls for closures of fishing in areas where large Numbers of critically endangered sea turtles are caught or killed as a Compromise to calls for a moratorium. The critically endangered Pacific Leatherback sea turtle is on the verge of extinction and is expected by scientists to go extinct in the next 5-30 years unless immediate measures to eliminate Threats posed by industrial longline fishing are taken.

"We were hopeful that the fisheries commission would have resisted the Economic bullying of Japan and come up with a reasonable compromise that Protects sea turtles and permits longline fishing. The UN will now have no Option but to seriously consider the need for a moratorium on longline fishing In the Pacific. Japan's behavior as an environmental pariah has left us with no other options," said Ovetz.

Earlier this year, the Sea Turtle Restoration Project delivered a letter to the UN signed by 1,007 scientists from 97 countries and 281 non-governmental organizations from 64 countries urging it to implement a moratorium on high Seas industrial longline fishing in the Pacific. The list of signers includes famed Dr. Sylvia Earle, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, and former U.S. astronaut Bernard Harris, Jr. M.D.

• News Alert furnished by Robert Ovetz,PhD, Save the Leatherback Campaign Coordinator of Sea Turtle Restoration Project. www.seaturtles.org (Robert was in attendance and was witness to these developments)

Bali, Indonesia, August 10, 2006. For Immediate Release

The LARGEST Sea Turtle and Reptile in the World, (in the Pacific Ocean) is very, VERY close to becoming a Museum Exhibit

Leatherback Turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, female returning to the sea after nesting on an Irian Jaya beach © 2005.

In the era of the dinosaurs, these turtles swam in all the seas; numbering over 100 million. In the LAST 30 or so years this huge population has been slaughtered at sea by the Asian long Line fishing boats and gill nets as these boats seek out tuna and sword fish. The fisherman and politicians use nice words that are selected to NOT upset you to describe the events. Words like…"by-catch" and "encounters" really mean SLAUGTER and Wanton KILLINGS!!! You can go visit these sea killers right here, in Benoa Harbor, Bali from Japan and Tawian on most any day.

The turtle is an air breather. When the destructive circle hooks of these fishing boats snag them, they are held under water and drown; just as would happen to US.

There are NOW about 400 females left who returned in early 2006 to the 2 remaining large nesting beaches; which are in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. In 2005, there were about 700.

To stop the long line boats in their murderous ways, will be an issue to the United Nations to solve, along with its Member Nations as is Indonesia.

The MORE Immediate and hurting need is to reverse the nesting results at these 2 remaining beaches. Global Warming (which cooks the eggs deep in the sand), egg poachers who sell eggs in markets and the local pigs and dogs are destroying the eggs at a faster rate than the population can stand in order to survive. On average since 2003, of every 100 eggs laid in 1 nest, about 10 to 15 hatch out.

We CAN correct this and MUST do this quickly. Become a Donor as we need money to pay for the work needed. Be a Volunteer to help us accomplish the many things needed to spread the words and calls to action.

Learn more on our web site: www.saveourleatherbacks.org. Then contact us for more on how YOU can help. We need your help RIGHT NOW!!!! Our e-mail is: info@saveourleatherbacks.org Let us hear from you.

Slaughtered at Sea by a Long Line Boat and Came to Shore for Help. No One did; --- It DIED!

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