Gerard LeBlond for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), in conjunction with the Department of Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), has designated two final rules for the critical habitat of the loggerhead sea turtle.
The turtle is a threatened species, and their habitat includes the Atlantic Ocean and coastal beaches along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. NOAA has designated the area – near shore breeding sites, nesting beaches, migratory corridors and areas where juvenile turtles are found, from North Carolina through Mississippi – a critical habitat for the turtle.
According to Reuters, there are 88 nesting beaches in the coastal counties of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. This accounts for an estimated 685 miles of the 1,531 miles of coastal shore line and 84 percent of nesting areas that are used by the loggerhead sea turtle within these states.
“Protecting endangered and threatened species, including loggerhead sea turtles, is at the core of NOAA’s mission. Given the vital role loggerhead sea turtles play in maintaining the health of our oceans, rebuilding their populations is key as we work to ensure healthy and resilient oceans for generations to come,” said Eileen Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for fisheries, in a recent statement.
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