NOAA Fisheries looking at habitat needs of leatherback sea turtles

Feds consider critical habitat for sea turtles

Federal fisheries managers have agreed to consider designating critical habitat for endangered leatherback sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean off Oregon and California.

NOAA Fisheries officials said Thursday they will make a decision by Dec. 4 under terms of a settlement of a lawsuit brought by conservation groups.

The groups had sued the government for failing to follow through on their petition to designate critical habitat.

Pacific leatherbacks migrate each year from Indonesia to feed on jellyfish in the California current between Lincoln City, Ore., and Point Conception, Calif.

As part of the settlement, the agency also is considering whether loggerhead sea turtles should be listed as endangered.