Photo copyright: Ralph Pace • Contact for use outside NOAA
Supporting turtle conservation and sustainable fisheries with dynamic ocean management
Turtle Bycatch Overview
The TOTAL program brings together agencies, universities, and the fishing industry to reduce bycatch of endangered North Pacific loggerhead turtles, which migrate near California during warm seasons and risk unintended capture by commercial fisheries.
Conservation Area Status
The Pacific Loggerhead Conservation Area off Southern California closes to drift gillnet fishing when warm ocean conditions bring loggerheads into fishing grounds, with closure rules and real-time status available online.
Historical Data Dashboard
Historical data since 2003 provide sea surface temperature, anomalies, El Niño status, and closure history for the Pacific Loggerhead Conservation Area off Southern California.