Recovery Plan for U.S. Population of Atlantic Green Turtle. The breeding populations off Florida and the Pacific coast of Mexico are listed as endangered while all others are threatened. Present estimates range from 200-1,100 females nesting on U.S. beaches. The number of nests has increased on Hutchinson Island, Florida, over the period 1971 - 1989, although nesting levels have been low on other nesting beaches.
Population estimates given are for the number of nesting females in Florida.
Populations in Surinam, and Tortuguero, Costa Rica, may be stable, but there is insufficient data for other areas to confirm a trend. The recovery team for the green turtle concluded that the species status has not improved appreciably since listing. The greatest cause of decline in green turtle populations is commercial harvest for eggs and food. Other turtle parts are used for leather and jewelry, and small turtles are sometimes stuffed for curios. Incidental catch during commercial shrimp trawling is a continuing source of mortality that adversely affects recovery.