Padre Island National Seashore began conservation efforts of sea turtles in the 1970s. It was then the National Park Service led the formation of a bi-national program to restore the Kemp's ridley population. The Kemp’s ridley historically nested from Mustang Island, Texas to Veracruz, Mexico.Since the 1970s Park Service staff and volunteers at Padre Island National Seashore have worked diligently to recover the Kemp's ridley. The program has expanded to include protection and conservation measures for four species occurring along Padre Island. Today, more Kemp's ridley sea turtles nest at Padre Island National Seashore than any other locations in the U.S. In the 1970s, the park also began the Sea Turtle Standing and Salvage Network (STSSN) in Texas, and later became part of the National STSSN in 1980. Park staff have served as the Texas Coordinator of the STSSN since the 1970s.