Articles > Introducing Articles By our own Jim Hines

Introducing Articles By our own Jim Hines

Written Mar 09 2010 by

Greetings friends:

In a victory here locally towards saving a magnificent species on 
our imperiled planet, the U.S. government last week designated 
"critical habitat" protection status in the Channel Islands National 
Marine Sanctuary and surrounding waters for the critically endangered 
Leatherback Sea Turtle population.

The Leatherbacks are the worlds largest marine turtle, growing up 
to nine feet long and weighing close to 1200 pounds.

This is great news as part of the "International Year of Biological 
Diversity", saving worldwide species and their habitats is now part 
of a year long, worldwide focus and it starts right here at home. 
This is the first time saving the habitat for this species has 
occurred on the west coast of the united states. This protection also 
applies to waters off other parts of California as well.

The total pacific ocean population for the Leatherback Sea Turtles 
is estimated to be around 4000 individuals.
The major causes of the Leatherbacks decline are ocean pollution, 
poaching, ingestion of plastic trash and being caught in fishing 
nets used by commerical fishing fleets.


Bio-diversity...enjoy it...appreciate it...protect it

Jim

Article kindly provided by Jim Hines

Tagged as Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Sea Turtle, Leatherback
Written Mar 09 2010 by
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