This amazing photo of a feeding leatherback was taken by Captain Michael Sack of Sanctuary Cruises outside of Moss Landing harbor in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, August 2011.

SeaTurtles.org is the architect and principal sponsor of AB 1776 (Fong) that will make the endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle the official marine reptile of California and declare October 15 as Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle Conservation Day.

California residents, click here to take action and send a letter to your California State Senator in support of AB 1776!

This historic bill passed the California Assembly on a bi-partisan vote! Click here to read the press release.

Click here to read our previous press release and the article published by the Los Angeles Times announcing the introduction of AB 1776. Click here to download a copy of the bill, introduced February 17, 2012.

Leatherback Leaders needed in California! Lead local community outreach to gather support for this historic campaign. Contact leatherback@seaturtles.org if you can;

1) Volunteer to gather public signatures for AB 1776 from California residents. Click here to download a public petition, then send us completed petitions to deliver at strategic moments during this campaign.

2) Contact local business and educational institutions, educate them about leatherbacks and guide them to write and deliver support letters to our Sacramento targets.

2) Lead outreach to your local schools, service organizations, and clubs with SeaTurtles.org's Fact Sheets, PowerPoint slide presentations, and videos! Educate, then activate your audience to write letters and contribute donations for the campaign.

3) Work directly with SeaTurtles.org staff campaigners to deliver strategic campaign messages to Sacramento targets at appropriate times.

The bill will be heard in committees in April, on the Assembly floor in May, in the Senate in June, and then to the Governor in August. Leatherback Leaders will take action at each stage of this important campaign!

Resources

Fact Sheet on AB 1776 includes photos, important background information, and a migration map showing the amazing journey these gently giants take to reach California. Click here to download a printable color Fact Sheet.

Amazing images and video of leatherback sea turtles in California are available to share with media and AB 1776 supporting partners for use in email blasts, online content, or print content! Please contact us to secure permissions at leatherback@seaturtles.org

Leatherback Coloring Page is a fun way to teach kids about leatherback sea turtles and the abundance of diverse marine life under the sea. Click here to download a printable copy for your classroom!

Background Information

The California Marine Reptile Bill, AB 1776 (Fong), highlights California's conservation ethic and builds on our recent leatherback critical habitat victory. California is dedicated to the protection of marine wildlife and sea turtles are a central component of California’s natural heritage and marine biodiversity. Pacific leatherback sea turtle populations have experienced a catastrophic decline over the past two decades of over 90 percent. They are among the most imperiled of any sea turtle population in any ocean basin on Earth. This year 16,910 square miles of critical habitat were designated in California demonstrating the importance of California’s healthy ocean to leatherback survival.