Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 1

Assessment Summary

Assessment Summary – May 2001
Common name	Leatherback turtle
Scientific name	Dermochelys coriacea
Status	Endangered
Reason for designation	The leatherback turtle is undergoing a severe global decline (> 70 % in 15 years). In Canadian waters, incidental capture in fishing gear is a major cause of mortality. A long lifespan, very high rates of egg and hatchling mortality, and a late age of maturity makes this species unusually vulnerable to even small increases in rates of mortality of adults and older juveniles.
Occurrence	Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean
Status history	Designated Endangered in April 1981. Status re-examined and confirmed in May 2001.