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http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/t/5243/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=24635

 Click the link above to read & send your message. Comments accepted until May 27th.

The federal government is once again proposing to allow longline fishing for swordfish in the waters off California and Oregon. Shallow-set longlining, in which a single vessel can lay out over 60 miles of line and 1,000 hooks at a time near the water’s surface, is one of the most destructive fishing practices ever invented. In addition to depleting the oceans of the targeted swordfish and tuna, these longlines hook, entangle, and kill tens of thousands of seabirds, sea turtles, marine mammals and sharks. The critically endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle has been reduced from over 100,000 nesting females to fewer than 3,000 over the past 25 years, primarily due to the impacts of longline fishing.

Swordfish longlining has been banned in waters off the West Coast since 2004, following a successful lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity. Just last summer, the Center led opposition to a proposal to allow an experimental longline fishery in these waters, which are crucial to the Pacific leatherback. Even though the California Coastal Commission has already denied that proposal before, the National Marine Fisheries Service and...

Tags: leatherbacks, longline fishing, pacific leatherback, swordfish

http://takeaction.oceana.org/t/6207/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=24292

 In the past decade, loggerheads nesting in Florida have declined 50 percent. Oceana, along with the Center for biological Diversity, has petitioned the government to help loggerheads recover by formally listing them as an “endangered” species and creating more protections for turtle habitats in the Atlantic.

The two federal agencies charged with protecting loggerheads – in land and on water – are now accepting comments from the public on this important issue. Please speak out for turtles by sending a letter. Hurry - comments will only be accepted until May 5, 2008.

Come on out & say hello! We'll have a table set up with educational displays.

 http://www.floridastateparks.org/washingtonoaks/Events.cfm

 http://www.washingtonoaks.org/

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080407/NEWS0105/80406027/1007/RSS0105

 More than 90%  of US loggerheads nest in Florida. Interesting article from the Ft. Myers News-Press.

The Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol loves dogs!

However, if you do take your dog to the beach where permitted to do so, please keep in mind that dogs can potentially be a serious threat to sea turtles, land tortoises and shore birds by digging up incubating eggs as well as disturbing or injuring nesting adults or hatchlings. Please follow regulations when enjoying the beach with your dog.

Barley-Beef Dog Biscuit Recipe: 

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 4 T dried parsley, 2 C beef broth or beef stock, 2 C organic barley flour, 3 1/2+ C organic rye flour (the flours can be found at health food stores)

Combine olive oil & parsley in a large bowl. Heat beef broth until steaming & then add to olive oil mixture. Stir in barley flour. Gradually add rye flour.

Put dough on a floured surface (use rye flour) & knead several minutes until smooth. Roll dough out to about 1/4" thickness & cut into desired shapes using a floured cookie cutter.

Bake on ungreased cookie sheets at 350 for 30 minutes. (They won't increase in size, so you can put them close together.) Turn over & bake an additional 30 minutes at...

 Thank you to our

•  A-1-A Burrito Works    
• Anderson Rentals Inc.   
•  Body Sculpting & Fitness    
• Chrismon’s Cycle Repair     
• Drummond Press    
• Fisherman’s Net    
• Flagler Beach Bait & Tackle   
• Flagler Pennysaver    
• Friends Café   
• GDS Communications, Inc.     
• JMJ Tobacco Outlet    
• Joy & Carl Hamp    
• Klein Art   
• Leonardi’s Nursery, Landscaping & Irrigation     
• Life Safety Consultants of Michigan    
• Manny’s Pizza House    
• Market Square Meats & Deli    
• Martins Restaurant & Lounge    
• Michele Myers   
• Osprey Fishing Charters, Captain Rob Ottlein   
• Palm Coast Charters, Captain Ralph Olivett  
• Paul Boggs   
• Physical Therapist Specialists   
• Publix Super Markets Inc.  
• Real Estate Today   
• Rossi’s at the Beach   
• Sally’s Ice Cream   
• Southeast Jewelry  
• Sun Trust Bank   
• The Flagler Fish Company   
• Jan & Harvey Hatridge 
• The Ludlow Family  
• Tom Gibbs Chevrolet   
• Tri City Cycles  

See our home page for more details about this weekend's Turtle Fest at Veteran's Memorial Park at the corner of A1A & SR 100 in Flagler Beach coming up on Saturday, April 5th. For presale tickets for BBQ Chicken Dinners, see a Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol member; tickets will also be available at the event. The event itself is FREE and there will activities for the kids, live music, great turtle merchandise available for sale & environmental exhibits. One of the planned highlights of the event will be the release of a rehabilitated sea turtle!

http://www.wftv.com/news/14341950/detail.html

Be on the lookout for more washbacks and hatchlings.  They are in the seaweed, under the seaweed, and laying out in on the bare sand. There are dozens all over Flagler County and in Volusia. The current is running to the south. If you find a turtle do not put it in the water. Please give it to the nearest lifeguard or Beach Patrol Officer; in Flagler County they can also be dropped off at the Flager Beach Pier Bait Shop. Thanks!