Source: PRESS RELEASE, 9/16/11

Today Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) credited the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for this morning’s announcement that the agency has rejected a pending proposal to list the East and Gulf Coast population of Loggerhead sea turtles as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  Congressman Jones and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) led a congressional effort to demonstrate to the agency that the proposed listing was unwarranted because the federal government’s own science suggests that the population of loggerhead turtles in waters off the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States is in the millions to tens of millions.  The two members of Congress emphasized that because the Loggerhead turtle has been listed as “threatened” under the ESA for years, numerous fisheries restrictions have already been put in place that have greatly reduced harmful interactions between fishermen and turtles.  These restrictions have played a significant role in the recovery of Loggerhead turtles, and will continue to be in place without an uplisting.  In addition, Jones and former Texas Congressman Solomon Ortiz, have pushed the agency to perform aerial surveys to determine the abundance of turtles actually in the water, and to use that information to supplement existing data on the number of turtle nests found on ocean beaches.  That new aerial survey data was helpful in making the case that loggerhead turtles are not endangered.      

“All of us are for protecting sea turtles, and everyone is happy to see that turtle populations are improving,” Congressman Jones said.  “Fishermen have played a key role in that recovery, as they have been required to live under significant restrictions.  The question was whether adding even more protection was necessary, and I’m glad the agency agreed that the science showed that it isn’t.”  

The final turtle rule issued by NMFS this morning can be found here.