NOAA’s Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS),
jointly referred to as the Services, announced today their joint
determination that the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is globally
comprised of nine distinct population segments (DPSs) that qualify as
“species” for listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA).

The Federal Register notice, scheduled to publish on March 16, will
formally announce the findings on petitions to list the North Pacific and
Northwest Atlantic populations of the loggerhead as DPSs with endangered
status and proposes to list nine separate loggerhead DPSs worldwide,
including the two petitioned populations.

“Following a thorough assessment of the global loggerhead populations it
was clear the nine populations were distinct,” said Eric Schwaab, NOAA
assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. "Our joint analysis
of the nine loggerhead DPSs also lead us to the finding that two of these
populations should be proposed for listing as threatened, while the other
seven should be proposed for listing as endangered.” The two DPSs proposed
as threatened are the South Atlantic Ocean and the Southwest Indian Ocean.
The seven DPSs proposed as endangered are the North Pacific Ocean, South
Pacific Ocean, Southeast Indo-Pacific Ocean, North Indian Ocean, Northwest
Atlantic Ocean, Northeast Atlantic Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea.

Loggerhead sea turtles are currently listed as threatened throughout their
range.

In August 2007, the Services completed an ESA five-year review of the
loggerhead turtle and recommended that the species be fully examined in
accordance with the DPS policy to determine whether the species exists as
DPSs and, if so, what the status of those DPSs is. On July 16, 2007, the
Services received a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD)
and Turtle Island Restoration Network requesting that loggerhead sea
turtles in the North Pacific be reclassified as a DPS with endangered
status, and that critical habitat be designated. On November 16, 2007, the
Services received a second petition from CBD and Oceana requesting that
loggerhead turtles in the Northwest Atlantic be reclassified as a DPS with
endangered status and that critical habitat be designated.

On November 16, 2007 and March 5, 2008, respectively, the Services
announced their 90-day findings that the requested actions may be warranted
and that they would proceed with an assessment of the loggerhead’s listing
status. Subsequently, a Loggerhead Biological Review Team (BRT) was formed.
The BRT evaluated the species in accordance with the DPS policy to
determine whether DPSs existed, and then evaluated the status of each DPS.
This effort resulted in a formal Status Review of the Loggerhead Turtle in
August 2009. The BRT status report then underwent independent peer review
by nine scientists with expertise in loggerhead sea turtle biology,
genetics, and modeling.

“The BRT status review was not only comprehensive in its scope,” said
Cynthia Dohner, FWS’s southeast regional director, “but represents an
outstanding synthesis of the best available scientific information used to
inform our joint determination and proposal.”

Following a detailed review of the BRT findings, and an assessment in
accordance with the statutory requirements of the ESA, the Services
determined that the petitioned actions were warranted and prepared the
single Federal Register notice that includes the 12-month petition findings
and a proposed rule for all nine identified DPSs.

The Services are soliciting public comment on the proposed listing
determination. Specifically they are seeking information and comments on
whether the nine proposed loggerhead sea turtle DPSs qualify as DPSs and,
if so, whether they should be classified as threatened or endangered.

Specific information sought includes the following areas relative to
loggerhead turtles within the nine proposed DPSs:

(1) historical and current population status and trends,
(2) historical and current distribution,
(3) migratory movements and behavior,
(4) genetic population structure,
(5) current or planned activities that may adversely impact
loggerhead turtles, and
(6) ongoing efforts to protect loggerhead turtles.

Anyone wishing to comment and/or submit information, identified by the RIN
0648–AY49, regarding the proposed actions may do so via one of the
following methods:

· Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
· U.S. mail or hand-delivery: NMFS National Sea Turtle Coordinator,
Attn: Loggerhead Proposed Listing Rule, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13657,
Silver Spring, MD 20910 or USFWS National Sea Turtle Coordinator, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL
32256.
· Fax: To the attention of NMFS National Sea Turtle Coordinator at
301–713–0376 or USFWS National Sea Turtle Coordinator at 904–731–3045.

The Services will post all information received on
http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that any personal
information provided also will be posted. NOAA Fisheries and FWS will
accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields, if you wish to
remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in
Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

Please note that submissions merely stating support for or opposition to
the action under consideration without providing supporting information,
although noted, will not be considered in making a determination, as
section 4(b)(1)(A) of the ESA directs that “the Secretary shall make
determinations … solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial
data available ...”

Information must be received by June 14, 2010. Request for public hearings
must be received by June 1, 2010.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency
responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and
their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Visit the
Service online at http://www.fws.gov or http://www.fws.gov/southeast/

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the
depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages
our coastal and marine resources. Visit us at http://www.noaa.gov or on
Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/noaa.lubchenco.

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