……objective science for conservation…….

The Pacific WildLife Foundation is a non-profit coastal and marine research and education society  that inspires an appreciation for objective scientific research and conservation of the ocean. We conduct original research, develop novel education programs, and inspire an appreciation for conservation of the ocean. 

Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle Conservation

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (2005) summarized the conservation issues for the Pacific leatherback sea turtle. The eastern Pacific leatherback turtle suffers from a combination of egg poaching on nesting beaches, killing of adults and incidental take in fisheries. Extinction is a very real possibility (Spotila et al. 1996, 2002). The IUCN has designated the turtle as critically endangered. Canada, the USA and Mexico have designated the species as endangered. The biggest threat according the CEC (2005) is incidental bycatch of adults in fishing gear. Many fishing methods ensnare the turtles throughout their range. A second concern is human impacts on nesting beaches. The presence of humans on traditional nesting beaches is thought to disrupt nesting. Humans also kill the adult females and remove eggs and accidentally run them over with boats. The Vancouver Aquarium and Science Centre is gathering information on turtles on Canada’s Pacific Coast.