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SEFSC Metadata Library > Marine Mammal and Turtle Division > SEFSC Marine Turtle >

Galveston Historical Turtle Projects

Project (PRJ)  |  Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:24607  |  Updated: August 19, 2026  |  Published / External 

Item Identification

Title: Galveston Historical Turtle Projects
Publication Date: 2017
Abstract:

This is a compilation of several data sets related to the Galveston Texas Seaturtle Headstart program. Most notable is the Kemp's ridley headstart program [1978-1992] which captive reared up to 2,000 Kemp's ridley hatchlings per year until they were large enough to receive up to 4 tags, then they were released into the wild in the Gulf of Mexico. Morphometric measurements such as carapace length, carapace width, body depth and weight are taken to track growth and health. This data package also contains data from the seawater intake pump. Water quality data is recorded during the intake of seawater through the intake lines. This data package also contains a summary of bacteria found in the turtle tanks. In order to maintain healthy reared sea turtle swabs were taken and tested for several different bacteria.
Notes:

The Headstart program at the Galveston Lab is no longer in operation

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
SEFSC GalLab Metadata Portfolio

Physical Location

Organization: National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
City: Silver Spring
State/Province: MD

URLs

URL 1

CC ID: 695616
URL: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/iso?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0157625
Name: NCEI Accession 0157625 Landing Page
URL Type:
Online Resource
Description:

The Home Page For The NCEI Archive For This Project. From This Page, One can navigate down to the (archived) data.

URL 2

CC ID: 1258243
URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/noaa-releases-79-florida-loggerhead-sea-turtles-wild
Name: NOAA Releases 79 Florida Loggerhead Sea Turtles into the Wild
URL Type:
Online Resource
Description:

NOAA Fisheries scientists and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released 79 loggerhead sea turtles into the ocean off Florida’s east coast. The turtles were raised in captivity as part of a unique program to test devices used during commercial fishing operations to reduce sea turtle bycatch and mortality.

The turtles were part of 2 weeks of testing that took place near Panama City, Florida in mid-June. Scientists from NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center evaluated the effectiveness of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in shrimp trawls. “This work is so important to the survival of endangered sea turtles,” said NOAA biologist Ben Higgins.

Acronyms

CC Caretta caretta (scientific name for loggerhead sea turtle)
CMTTP Cooperative Marine Turtle Tagging Program
FCA First Care Area, a semi-quarantine area within the Turtle Barn where turtles receive treatment for various ailments
PIT Integrated Transponder. A radio frequency identification tag used on sea turtles
RFF Right front flipper
RW Raceway, a rectangular holding tank 20' long by 6' wide by 2' or 3' deep
TED Turtle Excluder Device
VIP A person or persons who came through on a sea turtle tour that were part of a special group designated by the laboratory director, visiting researchers, officials, and dignitaries
W&M process of weighing and measuring the turtles
WL Wetlab buidling

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 24607
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:24607
Metadata Record Created By: James A Primrose
Metadata Record Created: 2015-04-24 11:06+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2026-08-19 18:34+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2021-04-29
Owner Org: SEFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2021-04-29
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2022-04-29