Saving the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle by Cassandra Garibay

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle- Lepidochelys kempii

http://nestonline.org/kemps-ridley-lepidochelys-kempii/

About the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle: Description & Ecology

The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle, scientific name Lepidochelys kempii, is highly endangered and has been for nearly half of a century. It is the smallest species of sea turtle, weighing in around 100 pounds and measuring two feet in length at full maturity. Kemp's have a grayish green carapace, or shell, and a small triangular shaped head.

Female Kemp's reach sexual maturity at 10 to 15 years of age and lay roughly 120 during each nesting. They can nest up to as many as three times in one nesting period which they have every two years. Although the male turtles never return to shore, adult females come ashore between April and June to nest along the gulf of Mexico. And like many sea turtles, Kemp's ridley return to the same nesting beach where they were born to lay their eggs.

Changes over time: Population & Geography 

http://drakehs.org/ACADEMICS/SEADISC/endangeredspecies/
2013/kemps%20ridley/website%20files/ecologicalimportance.html

In 1947 a video was taken showing roughly 40,000 female Kemp's on the shore of Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. By 1980, however, the population had declined to about 200  females.

As the map shows, Kemp's once inhabited the entire eastern coast of the United States and Mexico. Now, nesting is only found in a few beaches in Mexico and southern Texas.

Kemp's spend a majority of their life in shallow warm waters, making them vulnerable to human activity.

Why Kemp's are in trouble: Main threats

The population decline is primarily attributed to human  degradation of beaches. Predation and disease are also contributing factors to the low population status.

The original plan had intended for the species to recover by 2011, however according to the updated plan, threats that went unaccounted for prevented the species from being removed from the endangered species list. 

Although poaching turtle eggs is rare now, human traffic plays the largest role in the species decline. It was found that recreational use of beaches where Kemp's nest often leads to humans accidentally crushing eggs by foot or car. In some cases foot traffic creates distress and the Kemp's abandon their  attempt to nest, leading to fewer eggs. Fewer eggs and fewer hatchlings already puts the Kemp's at a disadvantage.

If the eggs survive to be hatchlings, they must face a new array of challenges. Construction and pollution  are unnatural factors that heavily contribute to hatchlings being unable to make it to the water. Over the years, scientists have discovered that the hatchlings find the ocean by detecting it's light and light polluted areas can create confusion. Yet, even without human interference, hatchlings would have to face predation. 

The sea turtles that make it to the ocean are not in the clear. They are still at risk of bycatch and water pollutants, such as oil spills. 

Years of  struggle: Listing Date 

https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/nature/kridley.htm

As a result of the many threats, Rancho Nuevo began enforcing laws to protect the sea turtle in 1967. The species was listed as Endangered on December 2, 1970 under the Endangered Species Act. 

In 1984 the preservation of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle became a bi-national project between Mexico and the United States and a recovery strategy was put in place. However the plan was revised in 1992 and once more in 2011.

The graph shows the number of nests found since the bi-national project was enacted. Although each iteration to the recovery plan has provided scientists with more knowledge, they have yet to reach 10,000 documented nesting female Kemp's. 

On the path to a better tomorrow: Recovery Plan

The updated Bi-National Recovery plan primarily involves enforcing past laws and increasing conservation efforts that have proven to be successful. 

Both Mexico and the United States require fisheries in the Kemp's natural area to use Turtle Excluding Devices, or TEDs, when using trawling as a fishing method. The 2011 expanded the range of fisheries that are required to use TEDs.  So far this has been successful, as studies have shown a decrease in bycatch. 

The plan also includes long term protection of "nesting beaches" such as Rancho Nuevo in Mexico, and reintroducing the species along the Texas coast. 

 The video below shows the Texas Parks and Wildlife recovery plan, which includes tagging and tracking the migratory paths of the sea turtle. The conservancy agencies collect the eggs and incubate them so that they are not at risk of human destruction.  By doing so, they are able to further their research on how to better protect the dying species. 

As the video showed, conservancy agencies have seen a slow but successful process using the latest recovery plan, yet they still have a long way to go. In order for Kemp's to be de-listed from the endangered species list, 10,000 nesting Kemp's must be documented in Mexico and 300,000 hatchlings need to be recruited and tagged per nesting season. 

Why it matters: What you can do

As Dona Shaver from the Padre Island National Seashore Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recover said, humans have been responsible for the loss of so many species, and are the number one factor in the decline of Kemp's ridley sea turtles. It is our responsibility to maintain and protect the species that we have left. 

http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/photos/4261034/

By raising awareness of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle and familiarizing yourself with the laws pertaining to fishing, you can help preserve a highly endangered species. You can also donate to organizations like the World Wildlife Foundation  and "send a turtle to rehab." According to the Bi-National Recovery Plan, the program is always in need of funds. 

Where information was gathered & where to learn more: Resources

Environmental Conservation Online System

Bi-National Recovery Plan for the Kemp’sRidley Sea Turtle  

National Geographic