You may download the complete report by clicking the links below: Final Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Status Report Jul/97 - PDF Format (446K) The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains a list of endangered, threatened and sensitive species (Washington Administrative Codes 232-12-014 and 232-12-011, Appendix A). In 1990, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted listing procedures developed by a group of citizens, interest groups, and state and federal agencies (Washington Administrative Code 232-12-297, Appendix B). The procedures include how species listing will be initiated, criteria for listing and de-listing, public review and recovery and management of listed species. The first step in the process is to develop a preliminary species status report. The report includes a review of information relevant to the species’ status in Washington and addresses factors affecting its status including, but not limited to: historic, current, and future species population trends, natural history including ecological relationships, historic and current habitat trends, population demographics and their relationship to long term sustainability, and historic and current species management activities. The procedures then provide for a 90-day public review opportunity for interested parties to submit new scientific data relevant to the status report, classification recommendation, and any State Environmental Policy Act findings. During the 90-day review period, the Department holds statewide public meetings to answer questions and take comments. At the close of the comment period, the Department completes the Final Status Report and Listing Recommendation for presentation to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. The Final Report and Recommendation are then released 30 days prior to the Commission presentation for public review. This is a Final Status Report for the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle. Submit written comments on this report by August 3, 1997 to: Endangered Species Program Manager, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091 or e-mail your comments to wildthing@dfw.wa.gov. The Department will present the results of this status review to the Fish and Wildlife Commission for action at the August 8-9, 1997 meeting in Richland, Washington.

Final Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Status Report: Executive Summary Olive ridley sea turtles are graceful saltwater reptiles with streamlined bodies and flipper-like limbs. They measure up to 73 cm and weigh up to 45 kg. Their distribution is limited primarily to tropical oceans and beaches. Most olive ridleys nest in large, synchronized aggregations known as arribadas. In the eastern tropical Pacific, large arribadas are found in Costa Rica and Mexico. Females typically lay two clutches, each numbering about 100 eggs, separated by 2 to 4 weeks. Eggs hatch after 7 to 10 weeks. Olive ridleys probably require more than 7 years to attain sexual maturity. Olive ridleys are primarily carnivorous. They eat fish, shellfish, jellyfish, and other marine animals. In some areas, algae may be an important dietary component. Threats to olive ridleys include poorly-regulated and illegal harvesting of adults and eggs, floating plastics, oil pollution, and incidental take in fishing nets. In areas where recreational boating and ship traffic are intense, propeller and collision injuries are not uncommon. The olive ridley may be the most abundant sea turtle in the Pacific Ocean. However, the number of olive ridleys at most arribadas has declined considerably during the past 30 years or more. Currently, several hundred thousand nest along the Mexican and Costa Rican coasts. The Bay of Bengal in India also supports several hundred thousand nesters. Ocean temperature restricts olive ridleys to waters well south of Washington. The state has only a single olive ridley record, a turtle that was found dead in Grays Harbor County. Oregon has two records. The Mexican nesting population of the olive ridley sea turtle is listed as federally endangered under the Endangered Species Act. All other populations are listed as threatened. The National Marine Fisheries Service has suggested the Atlantic population may deserve to be uplisted to endangered. Although Washington Administration Code 232-12-297 dictates that federally-listed species will be listed by the state, the olive ridley's range apparently does not include Washington coastal waters. It is therefore recommended that the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission not list the olive ridley sea turtle as endangered, threatened, or sensitive. For more information on wildlife management issues, please contact WDFW Wildlife Management Program. Phone: 360-902-2515 E-mail: wildthing@dfw.wa.gov Files formatted in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) require the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print. You can download the free reader directly from Adobe. Windows versions are approximately 4MB in size.