Proceedings 2013/039

Proceedings of the Zonal Science Advisory Process on Using Satellite Tracking Data to Define Important Habitat for Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea); 29 February – 1 March 2012

Chairperson: Kent Smedbol
Editors: Kent Smedbol and Christie Whelan

Summary

Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) was designated as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in April 1981 and reassessed as Endangered in May 2001. A Recovery Strategy for the Leatherback Sea Turtle in Atlantic Canada was published in February 2007. Critical habitat was not identified at that time, but a schedule of studies to identify critical habitat was provided. A Zonal meeting was held on 29 February – 1 March 2012 at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS, to review satellite telemetry data of tagged Leatherback Sea Turtles and determine if these data could be used to infer the location of important habitat for Leatherback Sea Turtle in Atlantic Canadian waters. The advice derived from this meeting could be used to inform identification of critical habitat in a Species at Risk Act (SARA)-compliant Action Plan for Leatherback Sea Turtle.

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