Loggerhead sea turtles feed year-round in the shallow waters off Florida's west coast.

Yet their numbers are declining, in part because their feeding grounds are prime fishing grounds for grouper and other reef fish.

Miles and miles of hooks crisscross the seafloor in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, luring sea turtles that are attracted to the squid used as bait.

From July 2006 to December 2008, there were an estimated 861 sea turtles caught on bottom longline gear. Nearly a third were found dead, drowned because they could not reach the surface to breathe.

On May 18th, the waters off the west coast of Florida were temporarily closed to bottom longline gear to protect loggerhead sea turtles, a species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. However, to keep this area closed, the government needs to hear from you.

Your support for the emergency closure will help to keep these waters closed to destructive fishing practices until effective sea turtle protections are in place.

Ocean Conservancy is working with the Florida bottom longline fishermen to develop long term measures that will protect sea turtles. They have forged a tentative agreement that would close a large portion of these waters during prime feeding months, prohibit the use of squid as bait, and greatly reduce the number of vessels allowed to use this destructive gear. They are also helping to transition the fishery to use less destructive, turtle-safer gear. However, these measures may not be finalized until 2010. The turtles need protection now!

Please act now to save these beautiful creatures from further harm. Comments are due by June 1, 2009.

Thank you!

Source: Ocean Conservancy