Status Review of the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) under the Endangered Species Act

The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) was listed under the ESA on July 28, 1978. Breeding populations of the green turtle in Florida and along the Pacific Coast of Mexico were listed as endangered; all other populations were listed as threatened. In 2007, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed a 5-year review for the green turtle. A 5-year review is an assessment of a listed species to determine whether its status has changed since the time of its listing such that it should be delisted or classified differently than its current status. Together we concluded that new information available since the completion of the previous reviews indicated a possible separation of populations by ocean basins but that a more in-depth analysis was needed to determine the application of the distinct population segment (DPS) policy. Based on the new information and the need for further analysis under the DPS policy, the Services recommended that no change in listing status was warranted in 2007. However, they committed to fully assemble and analyze all relevant information in accordance with the DPS policy.

In April 2016, we revised the 1978 ESA listing by listing eight distinct population segments as threatened and three DPS as endangered. This 2015 ESA status review provided the scientific basis to revise the ESA listings.