Leatherbacks are the world's largest living reptile-adults weigh from 200 to 700 kg. Unlike the other sea turtle species, leatherbacks forage in cold waters and venture into the warm tropics, where other sea turtle species reside, only to nest.
Considered the leatherback's major stronghold, Pacific populations have shown a dramatic decline. In Mexico, the population has been in serious danger of collapse despite more than a decade of protection efforts. Nesting female leatherback turtles declined from 70,000 in 1980 to approximately 60 in 2002.
Adults and sub-adults are routinely killed as bycatch by longliners and other fishing activity. Beachfront development, pollution, poaching and ship collisions have also contributed to the mortality of leatherbacks.
As such, the NACAP recommends nest protection and predator control, the implementation of gear modification and mitigation measures on longliners, the elimination of at-sea dumping of debris that may affect sea turtles and the creation of a trinational trust fund or similar mechanism to support international, national and local conservation initiatives.
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Publication – Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle