NMFS / USFWS Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation

NMFS LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE (CARETTA CARETTA) 5-YEAR REVIEW: SUMMARY AND EVALUATION (pdf)

Dr. Wallace J. Nichols was contracted by the Services to gather and synthesize information regarding the biology and status of the loggerhead sea turtle.

This review was subsequently compiled by a team of biologists from the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) Headquarters Office and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) Southeast Regional Office and the Jacksonville Ecological Services Field Office.

Our sources include the final rule listing this species under the Act; the recovery plan; peer reviewed scientific publications; unpublished field observations by the Services, State, and other experienced biologists; unpublished survey reports; and notes and communications from other qualified biologists.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 draft status review was sent out for peer review to nine academic professionals with expertise on the species and its habitats.

Peer reviewers were provided guidance to follow during the review process. Comments received from peer reviewers were incorporated into the status review document (see Appendix). The public notice for this review was published on April 21, 2005, with a 90 day comment period (70 FR 20734).

A few comments were received and incorporated as appropriate into the 5-year review.