Victory for U.S. Pacific Leatherbacks!

[Omaha Steve]

Victory for U.S. Pacific Leatherbacks!

A great victory for the continued protection of the Pacific leatherback sea
turtle was achieved last week when the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) made the decision to deny the issuance of an exempted fishing permit
(EFP) that would have allowed up to 30 drift gillnet fishing vessels, that
capture and drown sea turtles, back into a Leatherback Conservation Area
along the California/Oregon coast.

We would like to thank all of you for your efforts over the last year in
supporting our work to keep this protection in place.

The Leatherback Conservation Area was implemented in 2001, and closes a
large portion of the California and Oregon coast to drift gillnets from
August 15-November 15 each year whilst Pacific leatherbacks - which have
traveled over 6,000 miles from their nesting beaches in Indonesia - forage
along the U.S. west coast. Since this closure the observed capture of
leatherbacks by the drift gillnet fishery has been zero.

Thanks to all your help the Pacific leatherback will continue to be safe
from these destructive nets in this critical habitat area!

Please take a moment to contact the below federal and state legislators if
they are the representative in your area to thank them for their support in
keeping protections in place for the Pacific leatherback:

Senator Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senator for State of California
Phone: [phone]
Email link: http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/policy.cfm

Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey
U.S. House of Representatives for California's Sixth Congressional District
Phone: [phone]
Email link: http://woolsey.house.gov/contactemailform.asp

California State Assembly Member Jared Huffman
California’s Sixth Assembly District
Phone: [phone]
Email link:
http://legplcms01.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.aspx?district=AD06&

California State Senator Carole Migden
California’s 3rd Senate District
Phone: [phone]
Email link:
http://legplcms01.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.aspx?district=SD03

Our work will continue in opposing the issuance of a permit to allow pelagic
longline fishing along the U.S. west coast to ensure this area remains a
safe haven for Pacific leatherback sea turtles.

We will also be working towards duplicating such a successful protection as
the Leatherback Conservation Area at an international level in an effort to
create a biological corridor to protect the Pacific leatherback throughout
its migration in the Pacific.

If you would like make a donation to help support the Sea Turtle Restoration
Project’s continued efforts please click on
http://www.seaturtles.org/donate/index.html to make a secure online
donation.

Thank you again for supporting the sea turtles!

Sincerely,

Karen Steele
Campaign Coordinator
http://www.seaturtles.org