Threatened and Endangered Species: Green sea turtle conservation recognized
Services propose reclassification into 11 Distinct Population Segments for Green Sea Turtle along Florida and Pacific Coasts - Comment Period Extended
NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to reclassify the green sea turtle under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and list turtles originating from two breeding populations currently considered endangered as threatened due to improvements in their populations.
After a review of the global status of green sea turtles, the agencies are proposing to reclassify the species into 11 Distinct Population Segments (DPS) under the ESA, which maintains federal protections while providing a more tailored approach for managers to address specific threats facing different populations.
More information about the 11 DPS and the proposed status of each population can be found here: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/green.htm. The Florida and Mexican Pacific Coast breeding populations are encompassed within the North Atlantic and East Pacific DPS respectively.
Green sea turtle populations will continue to be protected under the ESA.
The agencies just completed an extended public comment period for this proposal and are now reviewing the information provided relevant to the status change. This includes potential critical habitat for the green sea turtle and any information that will help ensure that the final determination is based on the best available scientific and commercial information. Critical habitat in Puerto Rico that was designated in 1998 is proposed to remain in effect for the North Atlantic DPS. The extended public comment period closed September 25, 2015.
You may view all comments, information or data submitted on this proposal, identified as NOAA-NMFS-2012-0154, by visiting the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2012-0154 and scroll down to the "Comments" to review.
Media contacts:
Kate Brogan (NOAA Fisheries) at 301-427-8030 or 202-603-9651 (cell)
Brian Hires (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) at 703-358-2191
For more information 
Updated Wood Stork Map and Mapping Data Available
Nesting Wood storks
Photo: USFWS
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently completed updating the mapping information for Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) nesting colonies and core forging areas in Florida and the Southeastern U.S. The updated information reflects data from 2005 through 2014, and includes an updated PDF map, GIS shapefiles, and versions of the data compatible with Google Earth. The updated data files are available via the link below and on our Consultant/Landowner Tools reference page.
Wood stork Information
Changes made to ESA Section 7 consultation
request for FEMA CLOMR and CLOMR-F letters
FEMA is no longer accepting a programmatic clearance letter in support of Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) and CLOMR_F Letters of Request. As such, the North Florida FWS programmatic clearance letter is no longer available. FEMA now requires consultation letters be specific to each project. Public and private landowners, project managers/planners, and/or consultants now need to submit a clearance request to the Service and FEMA for each project.
Originally designed to assist private small parcel landowners and businesses, the programmatic clearance letter outlined details and specific scenarios and criteria where additional Service review was not considered necessary.
The Service's North Florida ES staff is providing updated information to aid project proponents in their development of a clearance request. See detailed requirements and preferred submission method via link below.
Details Available
Threatened and Endangered Species: Update Permit Conditions
Service posts updated permit conditions for captive sea turtles
Hawksbill sea turtle
Photo: USFWS
Individuals and institutions possessing a Service permit to hold captive sea turtles must meet new permit conditions.
The updated Standard Permit Conditions encompass the transport, rehabilitation, and disposition of sea turtles.
Details for the new conditions can be found on the Landowner/Consultant Tools and Sea Turtle information pages.
Frequently Asked Questions on Sea Turtle Permits
Service makes updated Skink Guidance Available
Sand skink.
Photo: USFWS
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has revised the conservation guidelines and survey protocol for the threatened sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) and blue-tailed mole skink (Eumeces egregius lividus). The updated information is available via the link below and on our Consultant/Landowner Tools reference page.
Skink Information
Eastern Indgio Snake
Photo: USFWS
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's North Florida Ecological Services Office (NFESO) updated its Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi) protocols. The updated survey protocols provide consultants and landowners a project planning tool to improve the Service's review of permit applications and proposed land clearing activities for potential effects on the federally-threatened eastern indigo snake. The tool is applicable to the NFESFO geographic area of responsibility, which includes the following counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas, Putnam, St. Johns, Seminole, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, and Volusia.
Click here for to review the new information
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