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LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE

Dermochelys coriacea

LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE: MONTEREY BAY'S ANCIENT MARINE SENTINEL.

Known for its remarkable size and unique shell structure, this gentle giant navigates the ocean currents with grace and strength.

Monterey Bay provides crucial foraging grounds for these endangered turtles, offering an abundance of jellyfish, their primary food source, due to this balloons and plastic bags offer a unqiue danger to this species as they often die after trying to eat these items. During each boat trip we look out for these items so we can remove and collect data types of plastic in the ocean.


Diet

Jellies, Salps

Population Status | Monterey

Federally Endangered, California Endangered

Legal Protection

Endangered Species Act

Threats

Bycatch, Egg Harvest, Biotoxin (Algal Blooms), Disease, Human Related Loss (Habitat Loss, Climate Change, Disturbance, Entanglement, Harassment, Oil Spills, Pollution, Boat Strikes, Collisions)

Size

5-6ft (Unisex)

Weight

750-1,000 lb (Unisex)