Occurrence of Immature Kemp's Ridley Turtles, Lepidochelys kempi, in Coastal Waters of Northwest Florida

Abstract

Kemp's ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempi ) is considered the most endangered species of sea turtle. Efforts to restore its populations are hindered in part by lack of information on the species in developmental and foraging habitats where they spend most of their lives. This paper reports the results of a tagging project conducted from 1984-1988 in the coastal waters of Wakulla and Franklin counties, Florida, in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, involving postpelagic immature Kemp's ridley turtles.