With all the Turtle Talk Recently

There’s been a lot of discussion on turtles, tortoises and the related in my household recently. Most often regarding species living along the Georgia coast, (naturally), and including topics such as habitat loss. YES! I AM having these conversations with my 4 year old!… ah-hem…

Jackson took this photo himself, like a big boy, of his beloved turtle and blankie...

Anyway, I heard the following on the news the other day, and well here it is, I am sharing it here….

“The Ocean Conservancy issued the following news release:

On Monday, May 18th, emergency protections for threatened sea turtles will go into effect in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Due to an unprecedented increase in the amount of turtle interactions and mortalities, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council recommended that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implement a temporary closure until longer term protections for sea turtles could be identified and implemented. The protections will result in the temporary closure of the bottom longline reef fish fishery out to the 50-fathom (91 meters) depth mark. This closure will last for 180 days – until October 28 – at which time it can be extended or suspended. This action is being taken by the National Marine Fisheries Service in order to drastically reduce both turtle interactions and mortalities.

“While this temporary closure is needed and will be a productive, necessary step in protecting threatened sea turtles, it is not the viable long-term solution we need. Our goal should be a sustainable fishery that greatly minimizes the turtle takes while keeping fisherman on the water and supporting their local coastal economy,” explained Vicki Cornish, Ocean Conservancy’s vice president of marine wildlife. “Management measures that accomplish these goals will signal the end of emergency closures such as these while still protecting a steady supply of seafood and the fishing industry in general. Obviously, fishermen do not set out to catch or kill turtles. And we do not want to see the fleets put out of business. Ocean Conservancy has been working with fisherman in the Gulf of Mexico to help forge a way forward on this very contentious issue, and lay a solid foundation for groups to work together in the future for better fisheries, safer and better gear to protect turtles, and a healthier Gulf of Mexico.”

The emergency rule will primarily affect longline fishermen who target shallow-water reef fish species like red grouper. Most shallow-water grouper fishing occurs within the 50-fathoms of the west Florida shelf where many of the incidental sea turtle interactions take place. The Endangered Species Act requires that federal actions, such as the permitting of commercial fisheries, do not jeopardize threatened and endangered species. In addition, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management Act requires that conservation and management measures minimize bycatch of non-target species and minimize mortality when bycatch cannot be avoided.

TNS gv51gv-090516-2294934 18MASHGema”

Carretta carretta, "Loggerhead", (imagesource,http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/ animals/images/800/loggerhead-sea-turtle.jpg)

Temporary Closure of Longline Fishery a Necessary Step to Prevent Further Fatalities Amongst Threatened Turtles. (2009, May 15). Targeted News Service,http://wf2dnvr16.webfeat.org:80/LKR6M11360/url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?vinst=PROD&fmt=3&startpage

=-1&clientid=30203&vname=PQD&did=1712758491&scaling=FULL&ts=1242787110&vtype=PQD&rqt=

309&TS=1242787384&clientId=302Retrieved May 19, 2009, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1712758491).