Loggerheads need protection

In recent history, civilization has given loggerhead turtles just what they don't need. Long-line fishing. Shrimping nets. And bright lights along the beaches and in coastal cities. Getting caught in nets or by fishing hooks can kill the ancient creatures. And too much light can keep them from nesting.

South Carolina has made good-faith efforts to protect loggerhead turtles, which the United States declared "endangered" in 1979 and are now considered "threatened." Unfortunately, those efforts have not been enough to maintain the number that nest on our beaches. Biologists estimate their numbers have dropped 3 percent.

Even more unfortunate are numbers from Florida beaches where loggerhead nests have declined by an alarming 40 percent.

Federal environmental agencies have been studying whether to downgrade loggerheads to "endangered" again in light of their decline. They say it's an unhappy necessity. Other biologists, however, do not think the "endangered" status is called for.

The public gets to have its say before a change can be made. It is important that the people of South Carolina go to bat for the loggerhead turtles.

If data show that they need the extra protection of an "endangered" status, that would mean accepting possible restrictions on future oil drilling off the coast and on fishing.

In any event, South Carolina should continue its efforts on behalf of the giant turtles by monitoring how the turtle excluder devices are working on commercial fishing nets and being vigilant about projects to make beaches here more hospitable to nesting turtles. A number of coastal municipalities have ordinances restricting lights near beaches. Some also have programs where turtle watchers protect nests from predators like raccoons and dogs.

The S.C. Aquarium rehabilitates injured turtles, including loggerheads. Its fine work has fostered more public interest in the fascinating reptiles.

Loggerheads are listed as "endangered" in Australia. They are also at risk in their habitat off the coast of Sicily and in Calabria.

These turtles deserve protection.They are a key part of South Carolina's natural heritage that should be allowed to flourish without undue interference.