The team's findings are based on a survey of the nesting population of leatherbacks in Playa Grande, Costa Rica - the world's fourth largest colony of the species. Using the colony, Spotila and team constructed a mathematical model of future population trends. Each year, about one third of the population dies after falling prey to fishing nets or lines. Spotila and team conclude that unless there are serious changes to fishing practices in the Pacific, there will be fewer than 50 nesting females in the entire ocean by 2004. The world's largest turtle, the leatherback weighs about 800 pounds.
Leatherbacks approach land only during breeding season.
Most breed every other year and lay clutches of eggs totaling between 80 to 100 at 10 day intervals before returning seaward. A mathematical model based on our assessment of a once large leatherback population predicts that unsustainable adult morality, apparently due to human fishing activity, will soon drive this population to extinction. Religious groups should not be allowed to impose their beliefs on the U.S. Forest Service, the lawsuit charged. It has not been presented in good faith. It is an utter waste of this Court's time.