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Marine Turtle Newsletter 68:23-24, © 1995

Recovery Plan for U. S. Population of Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Recovery Plans for U. S. populations of sea turtles in U. S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean waters are available to the public. Published plans describe recovery criteria for the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) [see MTN 63:17-20], loggerhead (Caretta caretta) [see MTN 66:19-20] and, finally, for the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata). Copies may be purchased from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Reference Service, 5430 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 110, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 USA; Tel: (301) 492-6403. KLE/SAE.

Current status:The hawksbill is listed as an endangered species throughout the world. The most important nesting beaches within United States jurisdiction in the Caribbean Sea are on Mona Island, Puerto Rico, and Buck Island Reef National Monument (BIRNM), St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands. Coastal development threatens nesting habitat. Illegal slaughter is a threat in Puerto Rico as well as in neighboring countries. International trade in hawksbill products threatens populations all over the world.

Goal: The recovery goal is to delist the species. [N.B. "delisting" a species refers to its removal from the list of species classified as endangered or threatened under the U. S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.]

Recovery criteria: The U. S. populations of hawksbills can be considered for delisting if, over a period of 25 years, the following conditions are met:

1. The adult female population is increasing, as evidenced by a statistically significant trend in the annual number of nests on at least five index beaches, including Mona Island and BIRNM.
2. Habitat for at least 50% of the nesting activity that occurs in the USVI and Puerto Rico is protected in perpetuity.
3. Numbers of adults, subadults, and juveniles are increasing, as evidenced by a statistically significant trend on at least five key foraging areas within Puerto Rico, USVI, and Florida.
4. All priority one tasks have been successfully implemented.

Actions needed: Six major actions are needed to achieve recovery:

1. Provide long-term protection to important nesting beaches.
2. Ensure at least 75% hatching success rate on major nesting beaches.
3. Determine distribution and seasonal movements of turtles in all life stages in the marine environment.
4. Minimize threat from illegal exploitation.
5. Ensure long-term protection of important foraging habitats.

Date of recovery: If funds are available to accomplish recovery tasks and if new information does not indicate other limiting factors, the anticipated year of recovery is 2020.