Recovery Plan for U.S. Pacific Populations of the Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

The leatherback turtle is listed as Endangered throughout its range. In the Pacific, leatherback populations are in severe decline and recovery actions must be given the highest priority. Primary threats to the species are incidental take in coastal and high seas fisheries, and the killing of nesting females and collecting of eggs at the nesting beaches. The United States does not have any nesting of leatherbacks in its jurisdiction in the Pacific, but has important foraging areas on the continental U.S. west coast and near the Hawaiian Islands. The recovery goal is to delist the species.