Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea): recovery strategy progress report 2007 to 2012
Table of contents
List of tables
- Table 1. Examples of human activities and associated effects on the biophysical functions, features, and attributes of the identified critical habitat
Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy Implementation for the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in Atlantic Canada
for the Period 2007-2012
Recommended citation:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2013. Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy Implementation for the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in Canada for the Period 2007-2012. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Report Series. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa.
For copies of the recovery strategy report, or for additional information on species at risk, including COSEWIC Status Reports, residence descriptions, recovery strategies, action plans, and other related recovery documents, please visit the SARA Public Registry.
Cover illustration: Canadian Sea Turtle Network
Également disponible en français sous le titre:
«Rapport sur le progrès de la mise en oeuvre du programme de rétablissement du corégone de l’Atlantique (Coregonus huntsmani) au Canada pour la période 2007-2012»
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, 2013. All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-1-100-23011-5
Catalogue no. En3-4/14-1-2014E-PDF
Content (excluding the illustrations) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source.
Section 46 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) requires the competent Minister to report on the implementation of the recovery strategy for a species at risk, and on the progress towards meeting its objectives within five years of the date when the recovery strategy was placed on the SARA Public Registry.
Reporting on the progress of recovery strategy implementation requires reporting on the collective efforts of the competent Minister, provincial organizations and all other parties involved in conducting activities that contribute towards the species recovery.
The Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the world’s largest and widest-ranging sea turtle. A single species occurs in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean basins. In 1981, it was first designated as Endangeredin Canada by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Its status was confirmed as Endangeredby COSEWIC in 2001 and 2012. The Leatherback Sea Turtle (hereafter referred to as the “Leatherback Turtle”) was listed as Endangered under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in June 2003. This document deals with the Atlantic Canada population of this species including individuals occurring off of the coasts of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Québec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Leatherback Turtles that nest on tropical and subtropical beaches in the western Atlantic migrate north annually to forage on gelatinous zooplankton (jellyfish) at high latitudes, including Atlantic Canadian waters (James et al. 2005, 2007). Entanglement in fishing gear is considered the primary threat in these northern foraging areas (Atlantic Leatherback Turtle Recovery Team 2006). Other threats in Atlantic Canadian waters include collisions with vessels, marine pollution, and acoustic disturbances. Threats outside Canadian waters include threats to nesting habitat such as: poaching, coastal construction, artificial light, and climate change (Atlantic Leatherback Turtle Recovery Team 2006).
The Recovery Strategy for the Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in Atlantic Canada (hereafter referred to as the “Recovery Strategy”) was posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry in 2007. This report fulfills the commitment to report every five years on the progress of Recovery Strategy implementation. It covers the period 2007-2012.
Critical habitat for the Leatherback Turtle in Atlantic Canada was not defined in the 2006 Recovery Strategy. Subsequent research and scientific review (Fisheries and Oceans Canada [DFO] 2012a) have suggested that there are three important habitat areas for Leatherback Turtle foraging in Atlantic Canadian waters. This information is being used to inform the identification of critical habitat in a forthcoming amendment to the 2006 Recovery Strategy.
The following six recovery objectives were identified in the Recovery Strategy: 1) understanding threats; 2) understanding Leatherback Turtle life history characteristics; 3) habitat identification and protection; 4) risk reduction; 5) education; and 6) international initiatives. Performance measures were identified in the Recovery Strategy and are addressed in this report.
Recent research on Leatherback Turtles conducted in Canada and abroad has revealed much about their migratory behaviour, important foraging habitat, and population structure. However, precise information about population size and trends in Atlantic Canadian waters and beyond is still lacking.
Two DFO-led Zonal Advisory Processes (ZAPs) were held in early 2012. Their purpose was to review the use of satellite tracking data to define important habitat for Leatherback Turtles in Atlantic Canada (DFO 2012a) and to review Leatherback Turtle interactions with fisheries and with non-fishery activities in Atlantic Canadian waters during 2006-2010 (DFO 2012b). The science advisory reports (SARs) produced from these meetings contain information demonstrating progress on the Recovery Strategy objectives: 1) understanding threats; 2) understanding Leatherback Turtle life history characteristics; and 3) habitat identification and protection.
Important progress has been made in achieving all objectives and many progress indicators. Measures to achieve all 6 objectives are identified in the Action Plan for the Leatherback Sea Turtle in Atlantic Canada, which is in development.
Assessment Summary – May 2012
Common name
Leatherback Sea Turtle -Atlantic population
Scientific name
Dermochelys coriacea
Status
Endangered
Reason for designation
Globally, this species is estimated to have declined by more than 70%. In the Atlantic, this species continues to be impacted by fisheries bycatch, coastal and offshore resource development, marine pollution, poaching of eggs, changes to nesting beaches and climate change. Canadian waters provide an important foraging area for these turtles. There they are threatened by entanglement in longline and fixed fishing gear.
Occurrence
Atlantic Ocean
Status history
The species was considered a single unit and designated Endangered in April 1981. Status re-examined and confirmed in May 2001. Split into two populations in May 2012. The Atlantic population was designated Endangered in May 2012.
Information on threats comes from the Recovery Strategy (Atlantic Leatherback Turtle Recovery Team 2006) unless otherwise indicated.
- Entanglement in fishing gear: Incidental entanglement in fishing gear such as pelagic longlines, lines associated with pot gear and gillnets, buoys and anchor lines, and other ropes and cables pose a risk of entanglement to Leatherback Sea Turtles (hereafter referred to as “Leatherback Turtle”). Leatherback Turtles that are entangled in fishing gear are at risk of serious injury, infection, necrosis or death. Entanglement can limit the Leatherback Turtles ability to feed, dive, breathe or perform other essential behaviours.
- Marine pollution: Marine debris such as plastic bags, balloons, plastic and polystyrene foam (e.g. Styrofoam), tar balls, plastic sheeting, and fishing gear pose a threat. Leatherback Turtles can ingest these materials resulting in blockages to their digestive tracts which can cause injury, reduced gut functions or death (Mrosovsky et al. 2009).
- Vessel collisions: Recreational and commercial boating and other marine traffic pose a threat to Leatherback Turtles since most of their activities occur in the upper 6-12 m of the water column. Approximately 20% of stranded Leatherback Turtles studied off Florida had propeller marks (Eckert et al. 2009). Limited information on this threat exists in many parts of the species’ range, including within Atlantic Canada.
- Acoustic disturbances: In hard-shelled sea turtles, seismic surveys and other acoustic disturbances elicit short-term physical, physiological and behavioural responses with impacts that are likely localized and short-term (McCauley et al. 2000; Martin et al. 2012). It is not known if similar responses are typical in Leatherback Turtles; however, research is underway to address this question (W. Dow-Piniak, pers. comm. 2012).
- Nesting environment:Though Leatherback Turtles do not nest in Atlantic Canada threats to nesting habitat are relevant to the recovery of the species and these include: poaching of eggs, coastal construction which alters preferred nesting habitat or prohibits nesting, artificial light that results in disorientation of nesting females or hatchlings and climate change which results in alterations to beach habitats (e.g. temperature change, loss of nests due to increased inclement weather, and beach erosion).
Critical habitat for the Leatherback Turtle in Atlantic Canada was not identified in the 2006 Recovery Strategy. Subsequent research by Dalhousie University and the Canadian Sea Turtle Network (CSTN, formerly the Nova Scotia Leatherback Turtle Working Group) was reviewed and used by DFO to identify three important habitat areas (DFO 2012a). This information will be used to inform the identification of critical habitat in an amended Recovery Strategy (in prep.).
Recovery goal
The recovery goal presented in the Recovery Strategy (2006) is to: increase the population such that the long-term viability of the [L]eatherback [T]urtles frequenting Atlantic Canadian waters is achieved.1
Recovery objectives
Creating and maintaining the necessary conditions both within Canadian territory and abroad in efforts to achieve a viable population of Atlantic Leatherback Turtles will be accomplished by implementing the following recovery objectives:
- Objective 1: Understanding Threats. Identify and understand anthropogenic threats to Leatherback Turtles in Atlantic Canadian waters.
- Objective 2: Understanding Leatherback Turtle Life History Characteristics. Support research and monitoring that will fill knowledge gaps concerning general organismal traits of Leatherback Turtles in Atlantic Canadian waters.
- Objective 3: Habitat Identification and Protection. Identify and protect habitat of Leatherback Turtles in Atlantic Canadian waters.
- Objective 4:Risk Reduction. Minimize risk of harm to Leatherback Turtles from anthropogenic activities under Canadian jurisdiction.
- Objective 5:Education. Develop and implement education activities that support Leatherback Turtle recovery in Canada.
- Objective 6: International Initiatives. Promote international initiatives contributing to the recovery of Leatherback Turtles.
Table 1 repeats the performance measures listed in the Recovery Strategy. They have been numbered for clarity in reporting but do not reflect priority. Section 3.4 presents a summary of the progress made towards these indicators from 2007 to 2012.
Table 1 is captioned Indicators of progress toward achieving recovery goals and objectives (Atlantic Leatherback Turtle Recovery Team, 2006). The table has two columns and six rows. The first row is column headings. Reading from left to right, they are: Recovery objective and Indicators of progress. Row one in the following description is the row immediately following the column headings.The table is read by rows. Row 1 Recovery objective, understanding threats; Indicators of progress: potential and known interactions of Leatherback Turtles and fishing industry activities identified and documented, post-release survivorship determined, potential biological removal limit assessed, potential and known threats of offshore development activities on Leatherback Turtles identified and documented, report produced on human activities known to, or having the potential to, threaten Leatherback Turtles in Atlantic Canada, with recommendations for actions. Row 2 Recovery objective, research; Indicators of progress: populations frequenting Atlantic Canadian waters identified, historic and current sightings compiled and organized in a centralized database, knowledge from research and monitoring activities compiled in a comprehensive, living, reference document that is regularly updated and accessible to a broad range of user groups, research initiated on foraging ecology, movements and behaviour of Leatherback Turtles in Canadian waters, research initiated on the oceanographic correlates that relate to the spatial/temporal distribution of Leatherback Turtles in Canadian waters, survey programme established to develop indices of abundance (e.g., long term in-water population trends in northwest Atlantic waters). Row 3 Recovery objective, habitat identification and protection; Indicators of progress, critical and/or important habitat in Atlantic Canada identified to the extent possible, tools for habitat protection assessed and evaluated, draft plan for protection of critical habitat in Atlantic Canada developed. Row 4 Recovery objective, threat mitigation and risk reduction; Indicators of progress: mitigation measures developed to reduce known harm from human activities, recovery and emergency response procedures implemented, along with specific threat reduction measures, programmes developed to engage stakeholders in the implementation of mitigation measures. Row 5 Recovery objective, education and outreach; Indicators of progress: information on Leatherback Turtles produced and distributed to federal and provincial government departments, public awareness materials produced and distributed, including but not limited to briefing kits, web resources, brochures, initiatives developed to educate and train stakeholders about their role in Leatherback Turtle conservation (e.g. continuation of fishers outreach/research via Canadian Sea Turtle Network. Row 6 Recovery objective, international initiatives; Indicators of progress, collaboration with other nations on Leatherback Turtle conservation initiatives.
This section presents the progress towards achieving the recovery goal and the population and distribution objectives for the Leatherback Turtle in Atlantic Canada between 2007- 2012.
DFO is drafting an Action Plan and has conducted initial consultations for this plan. An amended Recovery Strategy for Leatherback Turtles is being prepared. It provides updated information on Leatherback Turtles and identifies critical habitat as part of the Government of Canada’s ongoing commitment to the conservation of Species at Risk through the implementation of the Species at Risk Act.
Specific activities that have contributed to progress are presented in Table 2 organized according to the following categories: Research and Monitoring (including the schedule of studies [SOS]) (sec. 3.1), Management Activities (sec. 3.2), and Outreach and Education (sec. 3.3). Section 3.4 presents a summary of all of these activities and of how they have contributed to achieving the progress indicators identified in Table 1.
While this document reports on progress for the period 2007-2012, some research papers that are cited were published prior to 2007 because they were not available at the time the Recovery Strategy (2006) was being prepared. Not including them in this document would leave a gap of information between the Recovery Strategy publication and the five-year reporting period.
These recovery efforts and many of the other activities detailed below would not have been possible without the important collaborations of many partners.
This table consists of two columns. The first row is column headings. Reading from left to right they are, Progress towards recovery and Indicators of progress and recovery objective addressed. Information contained under the heading of progress toward recovery provides all progress toward recovery of the Leatherback Sea Turtle for the period 2007-2012. Information is provided in bullet form. Each row can have several bullets. Information under the heading Indicators of progress and recovery objective addressed are the same as the recovery objectives and indicators of progress presented in Table 1. Each row that contains bullet points for progress toward recovery aligns with a recovery objective and indicator of progress.
Progress towards recovery | Indicators of progress and recovery objective addressed |
---|---|
|
1 -- Understanding Threats |
|
2--Understanding Threats |
|
4 – Understanding Threats |
|
6 -- Research |
|
7 -- Research |
|
8 -- Research |
|
9 -- Research |
|
10 -- Research |
|
11 -- Research |
|
12 – Habitat Identification and Protection |
This table consists of two columns. The first row is column headings. Reading from left to right they are, Progress towards recovery and Indicators of progress and recovery objective addressed. Information contained under the heading of progress toward recovery provides all progress toward recovery of the Leatherback Sea Turtle for the period 2007-2012. Information is provided in bullet form. Each row can have several bullets. Information under the heading Indicators of progress and recovery objective addressed are the same as the recovery objectives and indicators of progress presented in Table 1. Each row that contains bullet points for progress toward recovery aligns with a recovery objective and indicator of progress.
This table consists of two columns. The first row is column headings. Reading from left to right they are, Progress towards recovery and Indicators of progress and recovery objective addressed. Information contained under the heading of progress toward recovery provides all progress toward recovery of the Leatherback Sea Turtle for the period 2007-2012. Information is provided in bullet form. Each row can have several bullets. Information under the heading Indicators of progress and recovery objective addressed are the same as the recovery objectives and indicators of progress presented in Table 1. Each row that contains bullet points for progress toward recovery aligns with a recovery objective and indicator of progress.
Progress towards recovery | Indicators of progress and recovery objective addressed |
---|---|
|
16 – Threat Mitigation and Risk Reduction |
|
17 – Threat Mitigation and Risk Reduction |
|
18 – Education and Outreach |
|
19 – Education and Outreach |
|
20 – Education and Outreach |
This section summarizes progress towards achieving the indicators identified in Table 1. They are listed in order as they appear in the table and following each point the progress indicator addressed is listed (see Table 1 for progress indicators and numbers).
Understanding Threats:
- A research document and a SAR were produced in 2012 (DFO 2012b; O’Boyle 2012) that refined understanding of the anthropogenic threats to Leatherback Turtles, though further information on fishery and non-fishery related threats is needed.(1, 2, 4)
- A Canadian entanglement hazard analysis is underway. (1)
- DFO is preparing A SARA Action Plan for Leatherback Sea Turtles in Atlantic Canada, identifying measures that are to be taken to implement the Recovery Strategy and address threats. (5)
Research:
- Source populations for Leatherback Turtles in Atlantic Canada have been identified and the largest rookery for the Canadian Leatherback Turtles foraging population has been identified in Trinidad. (6)
- LEK and TEK information has been collected and compiled for Leatherback Turtles within Atlantic Canada and Quebec. (7, 8)
- Historic and current sightings have been compiled throughout Atlantic Canada and Quebec. (7, 8)
- Research efforts have advanced our understanding of Leatherback Turtle foraging, movement and behaviour. Ongoing research activities continue to provide insights on foraging ecology, movements and behaviour, and oceanographic correlates that relate to Leatherback Turtles’ distribution. (9, 10)
Habitat Identification and Protection:
- Information from the DFO ZAP held in 2012 is being used to inform the identification of critical habitat in a forthcoming amendment to the 2006 Recovery Strategy. (12)
Threat Mitigation and Risk Reduction:
- DFO has undertaken threat mitigation in some fisheries through gear modification and training. (15)
- Emergency reporting hotlines and response networks are in place in Atlantic Canada and Quebec for Leatherback Turtles and other marine animals. (16)
- Through ongoing collaborative efforts, NGOs and fishermen in Atlantic Canada and Quebec have accomplished some threat mitigation and risk reduction to Leatherback Turtles. (17)
Education and Outreach:
- Several groups have undertaken numerous education and outreach initiatives, which include briefing kits, brochures, information sheets, websites, school curriculum lesson plans, educational DVDs, Species at Risk placemats, and information booths at events attended by key stakeholders (e.g. fishermen). (19)
- Concerted efforts to involve key partners (e.g. fishermen) in the stewardship of Leatherback Turtles have been undertaken during this reporting period. (20)
International Initiatives:
- Researchers and fishers continue to collaborate on international initiatives for the conservation of Leatherback Turtles throughout the Atlantic Ocean. (21)
Recovery for Leatherback Turtles is considered feasible and achieving the recovery objectives is considered possible. While some progress on the recovery of this species has been made, more work is needed. Continuing the timely implementation and monitoring of priority recovery measures is crucial for achieving the recovery objectives for Leatherback Turtles as specified in the Recovery Strategy. This will require careful consideration and management of funding requirements and available resources, while ensuring an environment that facilitates the implementation of recovery measures identified in the forthcoming Action Plan. It will be important to maintain existing partnerships and to establish new ones, and to conduct scientific studies required to address uncertainties. Outreach programs aimed at increasing knowledge and compliance should continue.
DFO is currently preparing a SARA Action Plan and an amended Recovery Strategy for Leatherback Turtles as part of the Government of Canada’s ongoing commitment to the conservation of Species at Risk through the implementation of the Species at Risk Act.
The following measures are considered a ‘high priority’ and should be implemented by the relevant organizations and entities:
- Continue to understand and mitigate anthropogenic threats to Leatherback Turtles within Atlantic Canadian waters. The CSAS document Assessment of Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) fishery and non-fishery Interactions in Atlantic Canadian waters (DFO 2012b) identifies a number of knowledge gaps in our understanding of threats caused by human activities. Mitigation measures should be implemented as our understanding of threats increases.
- Maintain and increase Canada’s collaborative efforts and partnerships with other nations for the protection and conservation of Leatherback Turtles outside of Canadian waters.
- Continue to monitor and strive to acquire population, distribution and abundance indices for Leatherback Turtles in Atlantic Canadian waters.
- Continue and enhance work to refine an approach to quantify and rank threats to Leatherback Turtles and an approach to estimate total annual mortality.
- Develop a SARA Ministerial Order for the Protection of critical habitat and a compliance plan to guide its protection, following critical habitat identification in the amended Recovery Strategy.
- Complete the amendments currently underway for the Recovery Strategy to include new information relevant to Leatherback Turtle recovery and critical habitat identification. The amendment should also include an updated SOS for future identification or refinement of critical habitat.
- Continue to undertake and support stewardship, education and outreach initiatives in support of Leatherback Turtle recovery.
- Adopt an adaptive management approach to the implementation of all future recovery measures. This will be essential to ensuring the survival of the species within its existing habitat and to addressing any emergent threats.
Recovery success will most readily be achieved by ensuring an enabling environment for the timely and prioritized implementation of recovery measures (as identified in the forthcoming Action Plan), monitoring the effectiveness of those efforts, adopting an adaptive management approach, and by continued collaborative initiatives for the protection and conservation of Leatherback Turtles throughout their range.
Atlantic Leatherback Turtle Recovery Team. 2006. Recovery strategy for leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in Atlantic Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa.
Brock, H.M.E. 2006. Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys Coriacea) in Newfoundland and Labrador: Distribution, diet, threats and the use of education in recovery efforts. MSc. Thesis. Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, 109 pp.
Convention on Migratory Species. 2006. Appendices I and II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) (as amended by the Conference of the Parties in 1985, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2005) effective 23 February 2006. Accessed: June, 2013.
COSEWIC. 2001. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in Canada. Committee On the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada. Ottawa, vii + 25 pp.
COSEWIC. 2012. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Leatherback Sea Turtle Dermochelys coriacea in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xv + 58 pp.
Davenport, J., V. Plot, J-Y Georges, T.K. Doyle, and M.C. James. 2011. Pleated turtle escapes the box: shape changes in Dermochelys coriacea. Journal of Experimental Biology 214a: 3474-3479.
DFO. 2012a. Using satellite tracking data to define important habitat for leatherback turtles in Atlantic Canada. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2012/036.
DFO. 2012b. Assessment of leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) fishery and non-fishery Interactions in Atlantic Canadian waters. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2012/041.
Eckert, K.L., B.P. Wallace, J.G. Frazier, S.A. Eckert, and P.C.H. Pritchard. 2009. Synopsis of the biological data on the leatherback sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea (Vandelli, 1761). Prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under P.O. #20181-0-0169 and Grant Agreement # 401814G050. 203 pp.
Giroux, S., E. Blier, S. Le Breton, et M. Outlette. 2008. Projet de collecte de connaissances autochtones sur les espèces marine en péril du Saint-Laurent. Rapport final. Agence Mamu Innu Kaikusseth, Réseau d’observation de mammiféres marins et Amphibia-Nature. Sept-Isles, Québec, ix + 84 pp.
Goff, G.P. and J. Lien. 1988. Atlantic leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, in cold water off Newfoundland and Labrador. Canadian Field-Naturalist 102:1-5.
Heaslip, S.G., S.J. Iverson, W.D. Bowen, and M.C. James. 2012. Jellyfish support high energy intake of leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea): video evidence from animal-borne cameras. PLoS ONE 7(3): e33259. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033259.
Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles. 2003. Signatory states. Accessed: June, 2013.
Ikanawtiket. 2010. Species at Risk- Leave no Footprint. Truro, NS: Precision Atlantic Media Group.
James, M.C., C.A. Ottensmeyer and R.A. Myers. 2005. Identification of high-use habitat and threats to leatherback sea turtles in northern waters: new directions for conservation. Ecology Letters 8:195-201.
James, M.C., S.A. Sherrill-Mix, K. Martin, and R.A. Myers. 2006. Canadian waters provide critical foraging habitat for leatherback turtles. Biological Conservation133: 347-357.
James, M.C., S.A. Sherrill-Mix, and R.A. Myers. 2007. Population characteristics and seasonal migrations of leatherback sea turtles at high latitudes. Marine Ecology Progress Series 337: 245-254.
Martin, K. and M. C. James. 2005a. Conserving sea turtles in Canada: successful community- based collaboration between fishers and scientists. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 4: 899–907.
Martin, K., and M.C. James. 2005b. The need for altruism: engendering a stewardship ethic amongst fishers for the conservation of sea turtles in Canada. Maritime Studies 4: 105-111.
Martin, K.J., S.C. Alessi, J.C. Gaspard, A.D. Tucker, G.B. Bauer, and D.A. Mann. 2012. Underwater hearing in the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta): a comparison of behavioural and auditory evoked potential audiograms. Journal of Experimental Biology 215: 3001-3009.
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Mrosovsky, N., G. Ryan, and M.C. James. 2009. Leatherback turtles: the menace of plastic. Marine Pollution Bulletin 58: 287-289.
O’Boyle, R. 2012. Assessment of leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) fisheries and non-fisheries related interactions in Atlantic Canadian Waters. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2012/063. iii + 99pp.
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Sherrill-Mix, S.A., M.C. James, and R.A. Myers. 2008. Migration cues and timing in leatherback seaturtles. Behavioral Ecology 19: 231-236.
Stewart, K.R., M.C. James, S. Roden, and P.H. Dutton. 2013. Assignment tests, telemetry, and tag recapture data converge to identify natal origins of leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, foraging in Canadian waters. Journal of Animal Ecology. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.12056
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1 A more quantitative population and distribution goal (recovery goal) cannot be determined at this time. Further research is necessary to obtain information on the population and distribution of Leatherback Turtles in Atlantic Canadian waters. The need for this is reflected in the updated SOS in the amended Recovery Strategy which is currently in preparation.
2Local Ecological Knowledge and Traditional Ecological Knowledge here refer to the ecological knowledge of coastal people and Aboriginal people respectively. Knowledge is cumulative and gathered over generations and is regionally and locally specific.
* Indicates progress made towards the SOS to identify critical habitat in Appendix B of the Recovery Strategy 2006.
*IMPORTANT NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER: DFO does not assume any responsibility for the quality of information, products or services listed in the Web sites provided above. Users should also be aware that information from external sources is available only in the language in which it was provided.
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