Green sea turtles reclassified from endangered to threatened

MIAMI – Federal officials say successful conservation efforts are responsible for green sea turtles of Florida and the Pacific coast of Mexico being reclassified from endangered to threatened.

NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the status change Tuesday. As a threatened species, the green sea turtles will remain under the protection of the Endangered Species Act.

NOAA administrator for fisheries Eileen Sobeck says in a news release that efforts developed in Florida and Mexico are a roadmap for further recovery strategies of green turtle populations around the world.

Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe says in the release that the reclassification shows how partnerships between various government agencies and other originations are making a real difference for imperiled species.