South Carolina Endangered Species Program final completion report to NOAA fisheries

There are four species of sea turtles that inhabit South Carolina waters. They include the loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, leatherback and green sea turtles. Threats to sea turtles in the marine environment are addressed in the Recovery Plans for these species, and many of the recovery tasks include the SCDNR as the “responsible agency”. Mitigation of factors impacting sea turtles in the coastal environment requires coordination and cooperation among various federal, state and local government agencies and private groups. The SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation Program is the best means of implementing Recovery Plan tasks with these other entities. Five studies are covered under this grant program: Technical Guidance, Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network, Movement and Habitat Use of Post-Nesting Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Information and Education and Foraging Habitat Delineation