University of Florida, Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Abstract
The Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempo is considered the most endangered of
the seven extant marine turtle species (Ross et al. 1989). The US Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) estimate the
breeding population at 1,500 to 3,000 individuals. The nesting population has been
reduced from approximately 40,000 on one day to no more than 700 annually
(Magnuson et al. 1990, USFWS & NMFS 1992). Conservation measures for the
species have focused on the protection of the nesting beach, captive rearing (head
starting), and the implementation of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) on shrimp nets. Five
hundred to 5,000 ridleys are still taken incidentally yearly by shrimp trawls (Magnuson et
al. 1990). Lack of knowledge about early life stages of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle
currently hinders recovery efforts for this federally listed species. (Document has 18 pages.
