Leatherback Turtle
Common Name: Leatherback Turtle
Scientific Name: Dermochelys coriacea
Description: The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the only marine turtle considered a regular and normal member of North American and European Atlantic waters, and hence the OSPAR Maritime Area is within the natural foraging range of this species. Today, the largest populations are in the Atlantic and Caribbean. The major breeding grounds for this species are in the western Atlantic The North Atlantic is considered a stronghold for subadult to mature leatherback sea turtles (Doyle et al., 2008) due to food abundance. The Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast is considered a ‘high-use area” within the NorthEast Atlantic that plays a central role in the feed
OSPAR Regions where it occurs: I, II, III, IV, V
OSPAR Regions where under threat and/or in decline: I, II, III, IV, V
What is the latest status of the feature?
The status assessment describes the latest changes in distribution, abundance and range of the feature, as well as any changes in the threats and pressures impacting the feature. The status assessments are updated regularly and inform OSPAR’s consideration of the effectiveness of the measures and actions that have been adopted and implemented by Contracting Parties.
Why is this feature included on the OSPAR List? |  | |
What protective measures and actions has OSPAR committed to taking? |  |  |
What actions have been implemented by OSPAR? |  |
