LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE (DERMOCHELYS CORIACEA) 5-YEAR REVIEW: SUMMARY AND EVALUATION NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE OFFICE OF PROTECTED RESOURCES SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND AND U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE SOUTHEAST REGION JACKSONVILLE ECOLOGICAL SERVICES OFFICE JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA NOVEMBER 2013 U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of the Interior National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION.................................................................................. 1 1.1 Reviewers………………………….….......................................................... 1 1.2 Methodology Used to Complete the Review ................................................. 1 1.3 Background .................................................................................................... 1 1.3.1 FR notice citation announcing initiation of this review……….……. 1 1.3.2 Listing history………………………………………………….……. 1 1.3.3 Associated rulemakings……………………………………….…….. 2 1.3.4 Review history………………………………………….…………… 2 1.3.5 Species' recovery priority number at start of review………………… 3 1.3.6 Recovery plans……………………………………………………….. 3 2.0 REVIEW ANALYSIS.............................................................................................. 3 2.1 Application of the 1996 Distinct Population Segment (DPS) Policy.............. 3 2.1.1 Is the species under review a vertebrate? ............................................ 3 2.1.2 Is the species under review listed as a DPS?........................................ 3 2.1.3 Is there relevant new information for this species regarding the application of the DPS policy?............................................................. 3 2.2 Recovery Criteria……………………………………………………….…… 4 2.2.1 Does the species have a final, approved recovery plan containing objective, measurable criteria?............................................................. 4 2.3 Updated Information and Current Species Status.......................................... 11 2.3.1 Biology and Habitat………………………………………………… 11 Distribution………………………………………………………..… 11 Migration…………………………………………………………..… 12 Demography…………………………..……………..…………….… 15 Taxonomy, Phylogeny, and Genetics………………...……..…….… 17 Habitat Use or Ecosystem Conditions………………..………….….. 20 Abundance and Population Trends………………………………….. 22 2.3.2 Five-Factor Analysis (threats, conservation measures, and regulatory mechanisms).………………...……………….………….. 35 2.3.2.1 Present or threatened destruction, modification or curtailment of its habitat or range……………………….….. 35 2.3.2.2 Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes…………………….……. 37 2.3.2.3 Disease or predation………………………………………... 38 2.3.2.4 Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms……………. 39 2.3.2.5 Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence………………………………………… 46 2.4 Synthesis……………………………….……………………………………. 50 3.0 RESULTS…………………………………………………………….…...……… 51 3.1 Recommended Classification…………………………………….…….…… 51 3.2 New Recovery Priority Number…………………………………….………. 51 4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS…………………….……… 51 5.0 REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………… 53 ii 5-YEAR REVIEW Leatherback Sea Turtle/Dermochelys coriacea 1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1 Reviewers National Marine Fisheries Service: Therese Conant – 301-427-8456 Angela Somma – 301-427-8474 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Ann Marie Lauritsen – 904-731-3032 Kelly Bibb – 404-679-7132 1.2. Methodology used to complete the review The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Protected Resources led the 5-year review with input from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The draft document was distributed to NMFS regional offices and science centers and FWS regional and field offices for their review and edits, which were incorporated where appropriate. Our information sources include the final rule listing of this species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA); the recovery plans for the U.S. Pacific, and the U.S. Caribbean, Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico; peer reviewed scientific publications; unpublished field observations by the Services, State, and other experienced biologists; unpublished survey reports; and notes and communications from other qualified biologists. The public notice for this review was published on October 10, 2012, with a 60-day comment period (77 FR 61573). Commenters submitted information on sea turtle bycatch reduction measures in the Hawaii-based longline fishery, community outreach programs in Papua New Guinea, monitoring and conservation programs in Indonesia, fisheries bycatch, entanglement and ingestion of debris, vessel strikes, and impacts from climate change. Comments received were incorporated as appropriate into the 5-year review. 1.3 Background 1.3.1 FR notice citation announcing initiation of this review October 10, 2012 (77 FR 61573) 1.3.2 Listing history Original Listing FR notice: 35 FR 8491 Date listed: June 2, 1970 Entity listed: Species Classification: Endangered 1 1.3.3 Associated rulemakings Critical Habitat Designation: 43 FR 43688, September 26, 1978. The purpose of this rule was to designate terrestrial critical habitat for the leatherback turtle as follows: U.S. Virgin Islands – A strip of land 0.2 miles wide (from mean high tide inland) at Sandy Point Beach on the western end of the island of St. Croix beginning at the southwest cape to the south and running 1.2 miles northwest and then northeast along the western and northern shoreline, and from the southwest cape 0.7 miles east along the southern shoreline. Critical Habitat Designation: 44 FR 17710, March 23, 1979. Critical habitat was designated for waters adjacent to Sandy Point, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, up to and inclusive of the waters from the hundred fathom curve shoreward to the level of mean high tide. Regulations Consolidation Final Rule: 64 FR 14052, March 23, 1999. The purpose of this rule was to make the regulations regarding implementation of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) by NMFS for marine species more concise, better organized, and therefore easier for the public to use. Critical Habitat Designation: 77 FR 4170, January 26, 2012. The purpose of this rule was to designate marine critical habitat for the leatherback turtle as follows: (1) California—(a) the area bounded by Point Sur then north along the shoreline following the line of extreme low water to Point Arena then west to 38°57’14” N./123°44’26”W. then south along the 200 meter isobath to 36°18’46” N./122°4’43”W. then east to point of origin at Point Sur; (b) the nearshore area from Point Arena to Point Arguello and offshore to a line connecting 38°57’14” N./124°18’36”W. and 34°34’32” N./121°39’51”W. along the 3,000 meter isobaths; (2) Oregon/Washington—the area bounded by Cape Blanco, Oregon north along the shoreline following the line of the extreme low water to Cape Flattery, Washington then north to the U.S./Canada boundary then west and south along the line of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone to 47°57’38” N./126°22’54”W. then south along a line approximating the 2,000 meter isobath then east to the point of origin at Cape Blanco. 1.3.4 Review history National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2007. Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, Maryland and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Jacksonville, Florida. 79 pages. Conclusion: Retain the listing as an endangered species. However, a review and analysis of the species listing relative to the Distinct Population Segment policy was recommended. Plotkin, P.T. (Editor). 1995. National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Status Reviews for Sea Turtles Listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, Maryland. 139 pages. Conclusion: Retain the listing as an endangered species. 2 Mager, A.M., Jr. 1985. Five-year status reviews of sea turtles listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, St. Petersburg, Florida. 90 pages. Conclusion: Retain the listing as an endangered species . FWS also conducted 5-year reviews for the leatherback in 1985 (50 FR 29901) and in 1991 (56 FR 56882). In these reviews, the status of many species was simultaneously evaluated with no in-depth assessment of the five factors or threats as they pertain to the individual species. The notices stated that FWS was seeking any new or additional information reflecting the necessity of a change in the status of the species under review. The notices indicated that if significant data were available warranting a change in a species' classification, the Service would propose a rule to modify the species' status. Conclusions: Retain listing as endangered throughout its range. 1.3.5 Species’ recovery priority number at start of review National Marine Fisheries Service = 1 (this represents a high magnitude of threat, a high recovery potential, and the presence of conflict with economic activities). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (48 FR 43098) = 1 (this represents a monotypic genus with a high degree of threat and a high recovery potential). 1.3.6 Recovery plans Name of plan: Recovery Plan for Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in the U.S. Caribbean, Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico (NMFS and FWS 1992) Date issued: April 6, 1992 Name of plan: Recovery Plan for U.S.