Comment from Concerned Citizen

While reading the proposal set for forth for the Critical Habitat Designation for the Endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle a few thoughts/concerns come to mind. First off an area that was left out of the analysis due to lack of data was potential West Coast Wind Energy Projects. I think more information should be gathered in this area because as Green Energy becomes more and more prevalent proposed projects could be halted due to restrictions concerning critical habitat for the Leatherback Sea Turtle. Currently the West Coast potential for offshore wind energy projects is not cost effective. Issues such as earthquakes, sea depth, cheap energy costs in the west and an abundance of land in western states make offshore projects less attractive. However as technology develops and our need for renewable energy is in higher demand west coast offshore wind energy will be reconsidered. Will these projects be destructive to the habitat or will they be unable to proceed because of the designated habitat? It is critical to protect the Leatherback but we also need to be able to develop renewable energy sources to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Another area that was left out of the analysis because it was not considered to have an impact on the Leatherback was fishing gear and vessel traffic. According to data supplied within the proposal it states that the majority of the Leatherbacks time is spent at or near the surface of the water. It also stated that 75% to 90% of the turtle’s time was spent at depths of 80 meters or less. If this is the case vessel traffic should be reconsidered. Turtles can and will be hurt from vessel collisions. Of the five leading causes of death for the Leatherback injuries from collisions with marine vessels ranks at number five, turtles can be killed instantly or obtain an injury that becomes infected resulting in death. The number two cause of death is turtle entrapment in fishing nets, lines or hooks that result in the turtle drowning because it is unable to surface for air. An estimated 640 turtles are killed each year within commercial fishing equipment. While 640 may not seem like a large number but an animal that is on the endangered species list this number could be the difference between extinct or not extinct. The number one cause of Leatherback Turtle deaths is the ingestion of marine debris or garbage. Over 50% of the turtles that were found and analyzed had plastic bags lodged within the intestinal tract. The primary food source of the turtle is jellyfish and they are unable to distinguish between the jellyfish and plastic bag. The ingested plastic cause’s blockage often times resulting in starvation and death for the turtle. This proposal is an excellent start to protecting the Endangered Leatherback but if we do not address the other issues plaguing this animal the proposal will be passed in vain. Habitat is essential for the procreation of the turtle but we need to protect the existing turtle in order for it to reproduce and flourish. Thank you, Concerned Citizen.