Florida sea turtles to get endangered species protection?

Some may see it as a loss when the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the NOAA Fisheries Service propose that a species should be classified as “endangered” rather than the less severe “threatened,” but the added protection granted by the more severe category is seen as a victory by at least one group. The Caribbean Conservation Corporation is claiming success in the case of the loggerhead sea turtle, whose numbers are in decline since 1998. According to a March 10 press release by the Florida-based organization, if the proposal for “endangered” status for the turtles passes, the new status could require that devices be installed in shrimping nets that allow turtles to escape easily. The release states that 90 percent of loggerhead nesting is done on the coasts of Florida.

The loggerhead is one of the best-known sea turtles. They can weigh up to 350 pounds, measure nearly four feet, and can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea. They’re also known to be delicious.