Application of Science in U.S. Sea Turtle Management PIRO sea turtle management slides for China mtng (April 2012) Christina Fahy and Irene Kelly National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Sea Turtle Recovery Coordinators

Sea Turtle Protections All sea turtles in the U.S. are protected under the Endangered Species Act (1973): …“ to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species depend may be conserved, and to provide a program for the conservation of such species…” Illegal to: harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct Convention on International Trade of Endangered Flora/Fauna

Endangered Species “List” and Critical Habitat (ESA) Endangered – any species in danger of extinction Threatened – any species likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future Critical Habitat “the specific areas on which are found those physical or biological features (I) essential to the conservation of the species and (II) which may require special management considerations or protection” Critical habitat should be considered at the time of ESA listing or within a year (or when petitioned by the public)

“Recovery” = de-List the species Recovery criteria (e.g. Pacific Leatherback Recovery Plan) All stocks using U.S. waters have been identified to nesting (“source”) beaches Each stock must average 5,000 females nesting annually Nesting populations at “source beaches” are stable or increasing over 25 years Foraging areas are maintained as healthy environments Priority #1 tasks have all been implemented Website: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm 2 – or a biologically reasonable estimate based on maintaining a stable popn in perpetuity

Sea Turtles of the U.S. Pacific EEZ Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) globally listed as endangered North Pacific Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta One of 9 “distinct population segments”, NP DPA listed as endangered in 2011 Will probably include a bit of information regarding source beaches for each of these. Olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea Globally listed as threatened except Pacific Mexico breeding population, listed as endangered

Sea Turtles of the U.S. Pacific EEZ Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) globally listed as threatened except for the Pacific Mexican breeding population and Florida breeding population (endangered) Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) globally listed as endangered

NMFS Protected Resources Program Core Marine Turtle Management Activities Implement the Endangered Species Act Listing and Recovery Cooperation with the States Interagency Cooperation (consultations and biological opinions) Int’l cooperation (e.g. CITES) Permits Implement priority activities of the U.S. Sea Turtle Recovery Plans 4: listing (petition from environmental group) – 5 factors (threatened habitat, overuse, disease/predation, lack of regs or other natural/manmade factors), species of concern and status review, de-listing or down-listing or up-listing

Relationship Between Research and Management Programs An important role of NMFS Science Center(s) is to undertake research necessary to inform management decisions Tina, we feel this is important point to emphasize that the role of the SC is for conducting research that informs management to facilitate or achieve recovery. Its not whatever research they feel interesting (i.e., University-based research).

Research Data Applied to Management Examples of applied research include: Fisheries bycatch reduction technology applied to fishery management Oceanographic and satellite telemetry data to identify important migratory and foraging habitats for fishery management Genetic and tagging studies for stock structure assessment to direct fishery and regional management activities We will expand somewhat on the fishery bullet #1, but can mention that bullets #2 & 3 will be presented on in greater detail in upcoming presentations (e.g., LH movements)

Interagency consultation (ESA requirement) Requires federal agencies to ensure their activities are not likely to “jeopardize the continued existence of” any listed species or result in the destruction or modification of designated critical habitat Jeopardize the continued existence of – reduce appreciatively the likelihood of both the survival and recovery of a species by reducing their reproduction, numbers or distribution

Step 9 -- “jeopardy/no jeopardy” ? Model of Assessment Framework for Jeopardy Analyses Step 4 -- Assess the Species’ Exposure Step 1 -- Identify the Action Step 2 -- Deconstruct the Action Step 5 -- Assess the Species’ Response Step 3 -- Identify the Action Area Step 6 -- Assess the Risk to Individuals Step 7 -- Assess the Risk to Populations Task A -- Establish Environmental Baseline Step 8 -- Assess the Risk to Species Task B -- Diagnose the Species’ Status Step 9 -- “jeopardy/no jeopardy” ?

Case#1 California drift gillnet fishery management Fishery closed Feb 1 - April 30 May 1 - August 14, restricted to outside 75 nm Fish primarily October-January 100-120 active vessels in late ’90s Gear: 16-22 inch stretched mesh Length from 750-1000 fathoms Depth of net from 100-150 meshes, set >36 feet below the surface Soak overnight, 12-14 hrs Broadbill swordfish

Leatherback interactions observed in the CA/OR drift gillnet fishery: 1990-2001 Observer coverage – 20% --

Origin of leatherbacks captured in CA/OR DGN

Leatherback Genetic Stocks - Pacific (Dutton et al. 1999, 2007) Eastern Pacific Western Pacific Malaysia

Estimated Number of Female Leatherbacks, Jamursba Medi, Papua, Indonesia 1981-2003

Sea Turtle Conservation Areas Leatherback Closure Aug 15 - Nov 15 El Nino conditions will be declared when the second and third month preceding the month of the impending closure have water temperatures that are warmer then normal off southern California (e.g. if water temps for April and May are above normal, then fishery would be closed in June. ITS Estimated Entang. Est. Mort Observed Leatherback 9 in 3 yrs 6 in 3 yrs 1 per yr Loggerhead 5 in El Nino Year 2 per EN yr 1 in EN yr Loggerhead Closure June 1 – Aug 31 (El Nino Yrs Only)

Effort has shifted since the closure and and it clearly has worked since only one Dc has been observed taken in the fishery since the closure over a decade ago.

Drift Gillnet Landings 1994-2006 year vessels Landings (mt) Ex-vessel revenue 1994 151 762 4,536,655 1995 134 701 4,190,568 1996 132 734 3,919,232 1997 121 664 3,166,095 1998 113 906 3,967,255 1999 97 597 2,785,199 2000 91 635 2,747,621 2001 82 351 1,541,152 2002 63 298 1,499,163 2003 54 198 1,025,092 2004 45 182 944,391 2005 220 1,184,545 2006 44 442 1,990,574 Since 1990, when NMFS approved observers were first placed on DGN vessels, the number of active vessels participating in the DGN fishery has ranged from a high of 129 vessels in 1990 and again in 1994 (Figure 6). The DGN fleet has been fairly stable since 2004 with an average of 37 vessels participating. The estimated number of days fished has dropped almost 75 percent from a high in 1990 of 4,078 days fished in 1990 to 1,103 days fished in 2008. Industry representatives attribute the decline in vessel participation and annual effort to regulations implemented to protect threatened and endangered marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds (PFMC, 2009). More specifically, much of the recent decline may be attributed to the leatherback closure although it is very likely the fishery was overcapitalized and the reduction in effort also reflects some fleet consolidation. It is believed that the closure especially affected vessels home ported north of Pt. Conception, and especially smaller vessels that have a harder time getting around the frequent rough waters near Pt. Conception.

Pacific Fishery Management Council March 2012 meeting Recommended to NMFS: Consider limited re-opening of current closed area 2 weeks earlier redrawing exclusion boundaries Consider establishment of hard caps for sea turtles in drift gillnet fishery Deadline: March 2013

Data used to consider critical habitat for leatherbacks: Bycatch Ship-board sightings Shelf observations Telemetry positions

Area Restricted Search (red) v. Transiting (black dots) Leatherbacks (n=40 turtles) engaged in ARS behavior 21% of the time in the California Current Ecosystem ARS behavior occurred in cool habitats, shallow, with high CHL, low energy areas [Benson et al. 2011] ARS --- increasing turning angle and/or decreasing speed

Petition to list Leatherback Critical Habitat off the U. S Petition to list Leatherback Critical Habitat off the U.S. west coast - 2007 NMFS determined that “critical habitat” (physical and biological features that make U.S. west coast important habitat for leatherbacks and essential for conservation) include: Prey – [jellyfish] of sufficient condition, density, distribution, diversity and abundance Brown sea nettles (137 kg/day) Moon jellies (275 kg/day) After the CHRT is convened, we begin to look at the available biological information. What are the features necessary for the species

Leatherback Critical Foraging Habitat Designation NOAA final rule - Jan 2012 41,914 square miles from surface to 80 m depth Primary constituent elements essential for leatherback conservation Prey abundance, quality, quantity, and density Activities to manage threats to prey? Entrainment, desalination, coastal runoff (pesticides), etc. Dense seasonal aggregations of scyphozoan sea jellies ESA requires designation of critical habitat for endangered species Conservation = point at which ESA listing no longer necessary Drift gillnet fisheries currently prohibited Aug 15-Nov 15 Although NMFS identified prey condition as a primary constituent element essential for leatherback turtle conservation during the agency’s leatherback critical habitat determination, little is known about the condition of sea jellies on California foraging grounds or their role in the trophic transfer of marine pollutants and biotoxins to leatherback turtles (Benson et al., 2007; Dutton et al., 1999 and 2007; Shillinger et al., 2008)

Case # 2 Hawaii Longline Fishery Management Basic intro to longlining operations – diff between shallow-set and deep-set Leatherbacks tend to get entangled in the gear; hardshelled turtles tend to ingest the gear --Most sea turtle-longline interactions occur in shallow-set gear; most turtles are landed alive --In deeper gear, fewer turtles are caught

Research methods to reduce sea turtle interactions in longline gear Hook type and size Bait

Research in North Atlantic (US): hook type and bait C. caretta D. coriacea

Conservation Measures to Reduce Sea Turtle Interactions in U. S Conservation Measures to Reduce Sea Turtle Interactions in U.S. Pacific Longline Fisheries Since 2004, U.S. commercial longline fisheries targeting swordfish (shallow-set) operate under strict regulations: *gear requirements (circle hooks & fish bait); safe handling requirements (dipnets, de-hooking); mandatory observer coverage (100%); and turtle interaction limits (“caps”) Safe handling & dehooking Fish bait

Hawaii shallow-set longline fishery: Switching from J hooks/squid bait to large circle hook/mackerel bait reduced pelagic longline fishery interactions with sea turtles by 90% (Gilman et al. 2007). (WPRFMC 2008)

Product: TurtleWatch A science-based management tool to reduce North Pacific loggerhead turtle interactions This slide is introduction or lead in to upcoming LH movement presentation, but included here to show how we’ve applied this research in our fishery conservation and management approach. Utilizing satellite tracking data of loggerhead turtles in the central N.Pacific together with oceanographic and sea surface temperature data, the PIFSC developed this product called TurtleWatch to help reduce interactions with North Pacific loggerhead turtles by the Hawaii longline fleet. TurtleWatch is a map that provides up-to-date information about the thermal habitat of loggerhead sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean north of the Hawaiian Islands. The TurtleWatch map displays sea surface temperature and identifies the predicted location of waters preferred by the turtles. By avoiding fishing in the area around the 65.5°F temperature contour – area between the solid black lines (the brown region in the middle), interactions with loggerhead turtles can be reduced. The Science Center updates the product weekly, available on the website, which provides real time information to the fleet. NMFS PIRO recommends the use of this management tool and has incorporated it as a conservation recommendation for our longline fleet to help them avoid accidental interactions. TurtleWatch has been translated into Vietnamese and Korean, and could be translated into Chinese if requested. (Howell et al. 2008) http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/eod/turtlewatch.php

U.S. Sea Turtle Management Activities Ongoing activities are focused to reduce impacts from: Nearshore/offshore fishery interactions Boat strikes Power plant entrainment Disease (fibropapilomatosis) Land use & waste-water Coastal development Tourism and public disturbance Illegal harvest

NOAA responsible viewing guidelines for the public As an example of our management activities in Hawaii, here we highlight our activities to manage tourism and public disturbance. In light of an increasing green sea turtle population in Hawaii, combined with the fact that more and more turtles occur in near shore habitats throughout the Main Hawaiian Islands - on the beach and foraging close to shore -, NOAA has developed responsible viewing guidelines and signage (placed in strategic locations) in effort to reduce unnecessary interactions and disturbance of basking (resting on the beach), foraging or nesting turtles in the Main Hawaiian islands. We also support volunteer groups to help reduce disturbance to basking turtles and provide educational information to visitors. This picture is at Laniakea beach on the North Shore of Oahu that is monitored by a local community organization, Malama na Honu. Through our efforts NOAA encourages the public to Enjoy Turtles from a Distance. This is a prime example of non-consumptive use benefiting turtles, the public, local communities, and local tourism economy in Hawaii. Encourage the public to Enjoy Turtles from a Distance.

Ongoing International Fishery Management Activities Promoting sea turtle conservation in the Regional Fishery Management Organizations (WCPFC, IATTC, ICCAT, IOTC) Leading U.S. engagement in international agreements for sea turtles (IOSEA, IAC, SPREP) Continuing Bilateral and Regional bycatch reduction work (circle hooks, TEDs, gillnets, pound nets) Continuing to build capacity, encouraging observer programs, and promoting scientific exchange

Thank you!