VANCOUVER - Fisheries and Oceans Canada has posted for public comment a proposed recovery strategy for leatherback turtles in Pacific Canadian waters on the Species at Risk Act (SARA) public registry, announced Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. 

The leatherback turtle was assessed as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in 2001, and has been on the list of wildlife species at risk under SARA since it came into force in June 2003.

“The proposed recovery strategy is our first strategy to be posted. It is a comprehensive strategy that describes the species and its needs, identifies the threats to its survival and outlines strategies to address those threats,” noted Minister Regan. “I would like to commend the thorough work done by the recovery team, which comprises DFO staff, academia, the fishing industry, non-government organizations, and the US NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service.”

The Minister also acknowledged that input on the recovery strategy was sought from the fishing industry, local and international NGOs and the academic community.  Advice was also sought from the BC Government, Parks Canada Agency, First Nations and the BC Aboriginal Fisheries Commission. The recovery strategy has been peer reviewed by members of the international scientific community with expertise on the species.

A proposed recovery strategy must be posted on the public registry for a 60-day public comment period for every species listed as endangered at the time of proclamation.

Within 30 days of the end of the comment period, the Minister must consider any comments received, make any changes as appropriate and include a finalized recovery strategy on the public registry:  http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm

The leatherback turtle is one of only two species of sea turtle seen in Pacific Canadian waters.  The adult leatherback is the most migratory of all sea turtles, capable of annual journeys of more than 15,000 km.  Leatherback turtles make extensive feeding migrations to Canadian coastal waters from nesting beaches and rearing areas in tropical seas. The species’ occurrence in Canadian waters and its increasing global rarity require conservation measures in Canada and contributions to international research and policy efforts.

Specific activities needed to assist in the survival and recovery of the species include biological research to fill the knowledge gaps on the species and  collection of information on abundance and distribution from sightings programs and survey work.  Further identification of threats to leatherback turtles in our waters and mitigation of these threats is also required, as is stewardship and awareness and international cooperation. As leatherback turtles are rare, the public is encouraged to report sightings of leatherback and other sea turtles to a toll-free reporting number at 1-866-I SAW ONE (1-866-472-9663).

A recovery strategy for the leatherback turtle in Atlantic Canadian waters is also being drafted by a recovery team. Together these two recovery strategies will cover the entire range of the leatherback turtle in Canadian waters.

Diane Lake

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

(604) 666-0939