Based on the passage, what can be inferred about the relationship between

scientists and sea turtle conservation?

NOAA Releases More than 200 Florida Loggerhead Sea Turtles into the Wild

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries’

scientists and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
will release 215 loggerhead sea turtles into the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida
coast on Thursday, June 22, 2017. The sea turtles were used to test turtle
friendly fishing gear used in commercial fisheries throughout the United
States.

“The turtles are part of a two-week study conducted annually in mid-June by

NOAA scientists to evaluate the effectiveness of Turtle Excluder Devices
(TEDs) in shrimp trawls,” said, NOAA biologist Ben Higgins. “This work is
critical to the survival of threatened and endangered sea turtles.”

TEDs are a component of a shrimp trawl, and they enable sea turtles to
escape from fishing nets, while minimizing shrimp loss. NOAA Fisheries
Service made TEDs mandatory in 1989. Prior to their use, thousands of sea
turtles drowned each year in shrimp trawls. Scientists and managers use the
data obtained from this important research to continually improve the
technology of TED designs which can be approved for use throughout the
shrimping industry.

“A key to the reliability of this research is that it entails the use of live,
captive-raised loggerhead sea turtles,” said biologist Higgins. “Our scientists
spend more than 30 days conditioning these turtles in a semi-wild
environment, preparing them for release into the wild.”

NOAA Fisheries scientists have been testing new and existing TED designs
annually since the mid-1980, and during the testing, which occurs just
southeast of Panama City Beach, Florida, divers observe and film sea turtles'
behavior to document how well they are able to escape from TED-equipped
shrimp trawls.
Each year, NOAA Fisheries Service biologists raise approximately 200
loggerhead sea turtles, hatched in Florida, at NOAA Fisheries’ Sea Turtle
Facility in Galveston, Texas, and then, at two years old, they are returned to
Florida for this research, where each turtle undergoes brief TED testing for
about 10 minutes. Once the research is complete, biologists release all of
the turtles unharmed into the wild. “From what we can tell, our evidence
indicates that the turtles we release become fully assimilated into the wild
stocks,” Higgins added. “They do not appear to suffer any adverse effects
from being raised in captivity or used in the research.” On average, the turtles
are 18 inches long and weigh 15 pounds.

Biologists release the turtles into the Atlantic Ocean where wild turtles of the
same size and maturity are found. Once released, the turtles begin seeking
natural sources of food, and may venture into passes and bays where crabs
and other shellfish, the staple of their diet, are commonly found.

This year, the United States Coast Guard from Station Fort Pierce will provide
vessel support for the release of 201 turtles offshore from Ft. Pierce.
Fourteen additional turtles will be released along the shoreline.

NOAA Fisheries Service would like to remind the public that it is a violation
of the Endangered Species Act to touch, handle or purposely interact with
sea turtles. Even small sea turtles will bite people and can inflict painful
wounds if handled or provoked. Although it is common for people to
encounter sea turtles in areas that are popular recreational destinations such
as beaches, docks and piers, people should not touch them. A natural part of
turtle behavior includes foraging.

Turtles that exit the water or appear to be experiencing difficulty swimming

may have been Injured, and people who see sea turtles that appear to be in
distress, injured, or dead should not touch or remove anything from these
turtles.

Source:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/news_room/press_releases/2017/noaa-releases-
200-loggerhead.pdf
 A

Scientists continue to be interested in the conservation of sea turtles.

B

Research into the conservation of sea turtles has declined sharply.

C

Research into the conservation of sea turtles has increased sharply.

D

Scientists have shown little interest in researching sea turtles.

2.Read the following excerpt from the passage.

“National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries’ scientists

and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will release
215 loggerhead sea turtles into the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast on
Thursday, June 22, 2017.”

What role does the above detail play in the passage?

NOAA Releases More than 200 Florida Loggerhead Sea Turtles into the Wild

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries’

scientists and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
will release 215 loggerhead sea turtles into the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida
coast on Thursday, June 22, 2017. The sea turtles were used to test turtle
friendly fishing gear used in commercial fisheries throughout the United
States.
“The turtles are part of a two-week study conducted annually in mid-June by
NOAA scientists to evaluate the effectiveness of Turtle Excluder Devices
(TEDs) in shrimp trawls,” said, NOAA biologist Ben Higgins. “This work is
critical to the survival of threatened and endangered sea turtles.”

TEDs are a component of a shrimp trawl, and they enable sea turtles to
escape from fishing nets, while minimizing shrimp loss. NOAA Fisheries
Service made TEDs mandatory in 1989. Prior to their use, thousands of sea
turtles drowned each year in shrimp trawls. Scientists and managers use the
data obtained from this important research to continually improve the
technology of TED designs which can be approved for use throughout the
shrimping industry.

“A key to the reliability of this research is that it entails the use of live,
captive-raised loggerhead sea turtles,” said biologist Higgins. “Our scientists
spend more than 30 days conditioning these turtles in a semi-wild
environment, preparing them for release into the wild.”

NOAA Fisheries scientists have been testing new and existing TED designs
annually since the mid-1980s, and during the testing, which occurs just
southeast of Panama City Beach, Florida, divers observe and film sea turtles'
behavior to document how well they are able to escape from TED-equipped
shrimp trawls.

Each year, NOAA Fisheries Service biologists raise approximately 200

loggerhead sea turtles, hatched in Florida, at NOAA Fisheries’ Sea Turtle
Facility in Galveston, Texas, and then, at two years old, they are returned to
Florida for this research, where each turtle undergoes brief TED testing for
about 10 minutes. Once the research is complete, biologists release all of
the turtles unharmed into the wild. “From what we can tell, our evidence
indicates that the turtles we release become fully assimilated into the wild
stocks,” Higgins added. “They do not appear to suffer any adverse effects
from being raised in captivity or used in the research.” On average, the turtles
are 18 inches long and weigh 15 pounds.
 Biologists release the turtles into the Atlantic Ocean where wild turtles of the
same size and maturity are found. Once released, the turtles begin seeking
natural sources of food, and may venture into passes and bays where crabs
and other shellfish, the staple of their diet, are commonly found.

This year, the United States Coast Guard from Station Fort Pierce will provide
vessel support for the release of 201 turtles offshore from Ft. Pierce.
Fourteen additional turtles will be released along the shoreline.

NOAA Fisheries Service would like to remind the public that it is a violation
of the Endangered Species Act to touch, handle or purposely interact with
sea turtles. Even small sea turtles will bite people and can inflict painful
wounds if handled or provoked. Although it is common for people to
encounter sea turtles in areas that are popular recreational destinations such
as beaches, docks and piers, people should not touch them. A natural part of
turtle behavior includes foraging.

Turtles that exit the water or appear to be experiencing difficulty swimming

may have been Injured, and people who see sea turtles that appear to be in
distress, injured, or dead should not touch or remove anything from these
turtles.

Source:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/news_room/press_releases/2017/noaa-releases-
200-loggerhead.pdf

It shows that loggerhead turtles are not an endangered species.

It shows that turtles are commonly eaten by large birds of prey.

It illustrates that NOAA scientists are trying to protect endangered turtles.

 D

It illustrates that NOAA scientists aren’t interested in endangered turtles.

2.