Comment on FR Doc # E8-04231

April 3, 2008 Dear NOAA, I am writing about the proposal (Document ID: NOAA_FRDOC_0001-0191) to reclassify the loggerhead turtle from “threatened” to “endangered.” I have traveled the Atlantic coast on family vacations and witnessed the simple beauty of what I believe to be the loggerhead turtle. There were protected nesting areas set up and I was pleased that the US was taking steps to protect them. It now seems more needs to be done. I support the proposal that the designation of the Loggerhead Turtle in the western Northern Atlantic Ocean should be changed from threatened to endangered. The information I have read through the Environmental News Network (an unbiased source of environmental news for over 15 years) gives enough evidence that the number of loggerhead turtles nesting is declining. The Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service have also provided information that they have gathered over many years of following the turtle and their findings show a trend of population decline of the turtle. Much of the evidence points to incidental capture by commercial fisheries. The number of loggerhead turtles that are captured and killed annually is in the thousands. The loggerhead is among the oldest animal on Earth. We need to protect them now and follow with research as to the best ways to maintain and increase their population. There is much evidence of the whys for the decline such as -incidental capture, destruction of habitats, climate changes. I do not feel we have the time to research and then later designate them as endangered. That may be too late. If an animal that is now designated as “threatened” is even questioned about a decline in population, it makes sense that it should be protected at the highest level as soon as possible. They need to be protected now. We can then continue our research knowing that those turtles that we have now are safer. We can’t protect them once they are gone. Sincerely, TCS Massachusetts