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November 14, 2007TURTLE CONSERVATION IS LIKE ITS NAMESAKE: IT'S SLOW, BUT THERE ARE BIG REWARDS
This is a News Release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region.
Contact: Tom MacKenzie, 404/679-7291Contact: Ken Burton 202-208-5657
Marine turtles have thrived for more than 100 million years. But only the last few hundred years have given the huge, spectacular, prehistoric amphibians serious trouble.
And that's where people like Earl Possardt, an international sea turtle specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, come in. Possardt is part of a bigger effort to rescue what remains of seven species of an animal that has managed, sometimes against formidable odds, to make it all the way into the 21st century.
In 2007 alone, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service directed international conservation grants totaling nearly $600,000 to 22 countries and conservation entities involved in sea turtle survival. Most of the money has gone to efforts to restore or safeguard turtle nesting areas. The funds also support conservation of the world's largest nesting loggerhead population in Oman, and help preserve one of the two remaining large leatherback nesting areas that occur along the West African coast.
Possardt said that overall, he has seen some positive response, but acknowledges that progress is "a mixed bag. We know how to conserve turtles, but we also know it takes a long time."
Myriad threats continue to plague sea turtles around the globe, but it was the growth of the shrimping industry following World War II that took a significant toll on turtle populations. Turtles are able to swim long distances under water, but must eventually surface for air. Trapped in shrimp trawls, thousands drowned. The eventual use of "excluder" devices by shrimp trawlers, which enable trapped turtles to escape while shrimp remain caught, has dramatically alleviated the problem.
But the turtles still face legal or illegal over-exploitation of their eggs or meat, depredation of eggs by predators, disorienting light pollution that can confuse nesting females and disorient hatchlings, and degradation of important habitat, including grass beds and coral reefs.
Poaching remains a potent threat. Last September, Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement agents and authorities in Mexico arrested 12 people involved in the black market sea turtle trade. The 3-year undercover investigation snared suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and smugglers who were dealing in products made from hundreds of sea turtle skins or pieces of turtle shells.
If that isn't enough, Mother Nature has placed its own natural restrictions on the turtles Ð hawksbill turtles may not reach sexual maturity until they are 30 years old; it can take loggerheads 12 to 30 years, and green sea turtles, somewhere between 20 and 50 years before they can reproduce, delaying the ability of populations to recover.
Because of some or all of those problems, species like the Pacific leatherback remain in dire shape; the East Pacific population, formerly the world's largest leatherback nesting aggregation as recently as the 1980s, is now reduced to fewer than 500 females nesting annually on beaches in Mexico and Costa Rica. They face continued threats from poachers, and the Service and NOAA Fisheries continue to work with the fishing industry to minimize dangers to the turtles from long lines and gillnets.
But there are bright spots. Possardt notes that the Kemp's ridley sea turtle represents a success story. On the verge of extinction in the 1980s, the Kemp's ridley was down to as few as 700 known nests in 1985, from the tens of thousands of nests counted annually in the 1940s, due to the aggressive harvest of eggs and females as well as a high mortality from shrimp trawlers. But a serious conservation effort on the part of the Mexican government, initiated in the 1960s and joined by the Service in the 1970s, managed to turn the tide for the Kemp's ridley, and today the turtle is in much better shape.
Of the seven sea turtle species that remain on the planet, six are considered imperiled; only the flatback turtle, found in the waters off Australia, is not on anyone's endangered list.
Turtle grants are made possible by the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004, enacted by the Congress and administered by the Service and are designed to ensure the long-term survival of sea turtles by providing a dedicated fund supporting international conservation efforts.
"It's a long-term job," said Possardt. "In one human lifetime, you have to look for small victories. In the larger picture, all of those will begin to add up, and through the combined multinational efforts of governments, conservation organizations and the fishing industry, we can save the sea turtles. In the process, we will also create more sustainable marine ecosystems for humanity." -fws-
April 26, 2007
Fish and Wildlife Service conducts five-year status reviews of 21 Florida species and one North Carolina plant
This is a News Release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region.
Contact: Tom MacKenzie, 404/679-7291The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to conduct five-year status reviews of 21 threatened and endangered species occurring in Florida including: 4 mammals, 1 bird, 1 snake, 1 butterfly, 1 shrimp, and 13 plants; and one endangered plant occurring in North Carolina.
These five-year reviews are conducted to ensure that listing classifications under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) are accurate. Any interested party is invited to provide information and comments pertaining to these species. Written comments and information related to these five-year reviews must be received on or before June 25, 2007.
This notice announces our active review of the following species listed as endangered: rice rat (mammal), Florida salt marsh vole (mammal), Key Largo woodrat (mammal), Florida grasshopper sparrow (bird), Schaus swallowtail butterfly (insect), short-leaved rosemary (plant), Rugel's pawpaw (plant), longspurred mint (plant), Lakela's mint (plant), Telephus spurge (plant), Highlands scrub hypericum (plant), scrub lupine (plant), Cooley's meadowrue (plant), and Carter's mustard (plant). This notice also covers species that are listed as threatened: Southeastern beach mouse (mammal), Atlantic salt marsh snake (reptile), Squirrel Chimney Cave shrimp (crustacean), Florida bonamia (plant), pigeon wings (plant), scrub buckwheat (plant), papery whitlow-wort (plant), and Miccosukee gooseberry (plant).
Specifically, this review seeks information on: (1) species biology, including population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics; (2) habitat conditions, including amount, distribution, and suitability; (3) conservation measures that have been implemented; (4) threat status and trends; and (5) other new information, data, or corrections, including taxonomic or nomenclatural changes; identification of erroneous information contained in the ESA list, and improved analytical methods. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection by appointment.
In addition to reviewing the classification of these species, a five-year review presents an opportunity to track the species' recovery progress. It may benefit species by providing valuable information to guide future conservation efforts. Information gathered during a review can assist in making funding decisions, conducting interagency consultations, making permitting decisions, and determining whether to update recovery plans, and other actions under the ESA.
The Federal Register notice announcing the status review of these 22 federally listed species is available on-line at [ http://www.fws.gov/southeast/5yearReviews/
Written comments and information on the Southeastern beach mouse, Florida salt marsh vole, Atlantic salt marsh snake, Squirrel Chimney Cave shrimp, longspurred mint, scrub lupine, Florida bonamia, scrub buckwheat, and Rugel's pawpaw may be e-mailed to Sandy_MacPherson@fws.gov, faxed to 904-232-2404, or sent via regular mail to Sandy MacPherson, Jacksonville Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6620 Southpoint Drive South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, Florida, 32216.
Written comments and information on the to Key Largo woodrat, rice rat, Florida grasshopper sparrow, Schaus swallowtail butterfly, pigeon wings, Lakela's mint, Carter's mustard, Highlands scrub hypericum, short-leaved rosemary, and papery whitlow-wort may be emailed to Cindy_Schulz@fws.gov, faxed to 772-562-4288, or sent via regular mail to Cindy Schulz, South Florida Ecological Services Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, Florida, 32960.
Written comments and information on the Telephus spurge and Miccosukee gooseberry may be e-mailed to Janet_Mizzi@fws.gov, faxed to 850-763-2177, or sent via regular mail to Janet Mizzi, Panama City Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, Florida, 32405.
Written comments and information on the Cooley's meadowrue may be emailed to Pete_Benjamin@fws.gov, faxed to 919-856-4520, or sent via regular mail to Pete Benjamin, Raleigh Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 551-F Pylon Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27636.
Information received in response to this notice of review will be available for public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours, at the same addresses.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices, and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
10/6/06National Wildlife Refuge Week at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 7-14, with the staff and volunteers of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The annual event celebrates the Refuge System's pivotal role in offering visitors outdoor recreational opportunities as well as show casing the conservation and recovery of wildlife species on Refuges across the country.The following programs are being offered in celebration at Merritt Island NWR:
Friendly Yards for Birds & Butterflies - Saturday, October 7, 2006 at 10 am. Learn how to transform your yard into a haven for butterflies and birds.
Plants of Black Point Wildlife Drive- Tuesday, October 10 at 10 am. Take a driving tour and learn about the variety of plants that support the refuge's wildlife.
Hawk Identification - Saturday, October 14 at 9 am. Learn how to identify raptors by attending a short presentation followed by a driving tour.
Oyster Restoration Project - Saturday, October 14 from 10 am to 12 pm - Learn about the ongoing oyster restoration project. Work alone or in pairs to make your own mat by attaching oysters individually to small mesh mats to create a platform for young oysters to settle and grown upon.
Birding Optics - Saturday, October 14 at 1 pm. Learn the basics of choosing and using binoculars and spotting scopes.
Eagle Watch - Saturday, October 14 from 2 pm - 4 pm. Meet a refuge volunteer between stops 11 and 12 on Black Point Wildlife Drive to view American Bald Eagles and their nest through a spotting scope.
Manatee Mania for Kids - Saturday, October 14 at 2:30 pm. Learn about these endangered animals through a short presentation, creating your own stuffed manatee, and viewing wild manatee at the observation deck.
To make reservations, contact Ranger Nancy Corona at 321-861-0668 or by email at Nancy_Corona@fws.gov. The Refuge Visitor Center is located on SR 402, 5 miles east of U.S. 1 in Titusville.
Oyster Reef Restoration Project Needs Your Help!
Gayle Hoffman of the Nature Conservancy will be celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week by conducting an "Oyster Mat Making Workshop" at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The program will take place at the visitor center on Saturday, October 14, 2006 from 10 am to 12 pm.Learn about the ongoing oyster restoration project and the important role oysters play in our estuaries. Work alone or in pairs to make your own mat by attaching oysters individually to small mesh mats. It typically takes 30-45 minutes to complete. These mats will be placed in the Mosquito Lagoon within the Canaveral National Seashore to provide a stable platform for young oysters to settle and grown upon.
Space is limited so please contact Refuge Ranger Nancy Corona by phone at 321-861-0668 or by email at Nancy_Corona@fws.gov to make reservations. Please join us for an interesting and rewarding workshop. The Visitor Center is located on SR 402, 5 miles east of U.S. 1 in Titusville.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Effects of Hurricane Wilma on Refuge
The Refuge received a significant amount of rainfall (up to 10 inches) but only moderate winds (25-30 mph with gusts up to 63 mph). The Refuge was already saturated from rains earlier in the month and the additional rainfall and winds caused one dike road to fail. Some side roads are under water or sustained erosion and are closed. Even SR 402 and SR 3, the main roads to the Refuge, were flooded on Monday. The SR 406 bridge, which connects the Refuge with Titusville, is closed. It was damaged when several boats pulled loose from their moorings and struck the bridge during the storm, causing structural damage. No estimates are available on when repairs will be made. With the bridge closure, the only public entrance to the Refuge is from the north on SR 3. From Titusville, this adds additional 35 minutes of driving time to the Refuge.Refuge structures suffered only minor water and roof damage. The Visitor Center and Black Point Wildlife Drive are open, but most trails and dike roads are closed. The only dike failure from the storm occurred on Catfish Creek Loop Road. The combination of high water and northeasterly winds pushed water over the earthen dike causing a gaping breach about 25 yards across. The Bio Lab Road, located on the west side of Mosquito Lagoon, was over washed and caused moderate to severe erosion. Both roads will be closed until repairs are made. Several other dikes on the east side of Mosquito Lagoon, which are not open to driving, were over washed but the dikes were not breached.
Most side roads, dikes and trails have standing water and are temporally closed. The water is beginning to recede but many dikes are saturated from the high water table. Side roads and trails will be open as soon as conditions improve. The Refuge will put out updates when conditions change.
The Visitor Center is located on SR 402, 5 miles east of U.S. 1 in Titusville. Call Ranger Nancy Corona at 321-861-0668 for more information.
National Park Service News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2005
CONTACT: Chief Ranger Eric Lugo, 321-267-1110INCIDENTAL BUSINESS PERMIT CHANGES
Incidental Business Permits (IBP), changes to be implemented at Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Effective January 1, 2006 changes that will be implemented to the IBP (also referred to as a Commercial Use Authorization) process at Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge will include the following: for new applicants the fee is a $100 one-time non-refundable fee and a $250 annual non-refundable administrative fee for a total of $350. Permits will be valid for one year. Those currently holding a permit will be charged $250, and will not need to pay the administrative fee unless a lapse in permit exceeds one year.These fees cover the cost's associated with the administrative process of preparing and issuing the permit including National Environmental Policy Act and cultural compliance approval if applicable.
Depending on the business activity and if additional monitoring of the activity is required there may be an additional charge included in the permit requirements. The monitoring fee is determined by how much it actually costs the seashore/refuge to monitor and/or perform needed functions to properly manage the commercial use.
IBP's are issued by the refuge manager and/or the park superintendent to permit certain commercial activities. The approved activity must be necessary and appropriate and be considered with the purpose for which the seashore/refuge was established. Examples of these types of activities include canoe and kayak trips, horseback riding and guided fishing tours. Permits are required of all operators who provide any and all goods, activities, agreements or other services to the general public which take place, at least in part, in the seashore and refuge, uses seashore or refuge resources and are undertaken for or result in compensation, monetary gain, benefit or profit to an individual, organization or corporation, whether or not such entity is organized for purposes recognized as non-profit under local, state or federal law.
Each permit year will now start January 1 and end December 31. In order to accommodate current permit holders a prorated fee system will be in place for the first year and until permits are caught up to the new system. Those permittees currently holding valid permits and meeting all of the requirements on that permit will be honored through the specific date of the individual permit.
All permits (including renewals) applied for will be prorated to December 31, 2005 at the old rate based on a monthly breakdown and then the full year price at the new $250.00 annual rate (plus application fee if a new request.
Within thirty days (30) after the end of each year, the IBP holder is required to submit accurate financial data within the seashore and refuge. Additionally, it is required that each IBP holder submit accurate records of activities within the park, based on trips conducted within park and refuge boundaries is required. This Monthly Use Statistics Report is used primarily to assess impact on park resources and for planning purposes.
Contact the phone number above for more information.
Carol A. Clark Ron Hight Superintendent Refuge Manager Canaveral National Seashore Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95 million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses the more than 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
For more information, please contact us at:
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 6504
Titusville, Florida 32782
(321) 861-0667
Email: merrittisland@fws.gov
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service**********
On March 14, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt signed an Executive Order creating Pelican Island as the country's first national wildlife refuge. Roosevelt went on to establish an additional 54 national wildlife refuges during his two terms and set historic conservation values for America. These values have grown into a system, which today, consists of 546 National Wildlife Refuges on more than 95 million acres of America's most important wildlife habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 546 national wildlife refuges and over 3000 "mini-refuges" called Waterfowl Production Areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological Services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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