By Catherine M. Welch
Wilmington, NC – Concerns about a drop in nesting grounds for Loggerhead Sea Turtles have NOAA Fisheries looking into whether certain populations should be reclassified as threatened.
The stretch of coastline from Florida to North Carolina is the second largest sea turtle nesting ground in the world. And nesting counts there have been dropping on a yearly basis since the early 80's.
NOAA Fisheries is now looking at whether certain populations should be reclassified from threatened to endangered. NOAA Biologist Therese Connant says nesting data is especially vital.
These are long-lived species, they don't become sexually mature until they're like 30 or 35-years-old. There could be something going on in the juvenile or sub-populations and we're not seeing them until years later when we don't see as many females coming up to nest on the beaches.
Recommendations for reclassification are due in July.
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