The database is a summary of sea turtles that are hook and line captured by recreational anglers in the region covered by the NOAA Galveston Laboratory through its work as the local representative of the Southeast Fisheries Science Centers Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network. The database cotains: morphometric data on sea turtles caught type of gear on which sea turtle was caught whether the sea turtle was rehabilitated and released or died tag information.

The database contains records pertaining to all sea turtles recovered by the NOAA Galveston Laboratory as the local representative of the Southeast Fisheries Science Centers Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network STSSN. The data includes morphometrics at the time of stranding, species and condition of the sea turtle at the time of stranding and documentation of tags present. It also contains information on the geographic location of the stranding.

This is a long term data set collecting visual census transect data on reef fishes at staions located at Rileys Hump, Tortugas South Ecological Reservee.

Sea turtles captured in various fishing gear (pound nets, long haul seines, gill nets) were outfitted with satellite transmitters so that their movements, migratory pathways and foraging behavior could be tracked. Despite their greater expense, satellite transmitters enable the researcher to determine long-range movements of sea turtles in comparison to acoustic and radio transmitters which delineate fine scale movements and habitat preferences. Furthermore, satellite transmitters have the capability of measuring and recording water temperature along with dive depth and duration of each tagged sea turtle. Finally, time spent on the surface can be measured and recorded.

This catalog cetacean skin and blubber samples collected during both small boat and shipboard surveys. Samples are collected using projectile darts. The catalog also contains the database with Information associated with the sample collection and storage.

Radio transmitters attached to sea turtles captured in various fishing gear enabled us to track and measure surfacing time of each turtle. Determining location of each turtle required detection and direction (bearing) of radio signals simultaneously by two or more receivers in the area. From these bearings, the animal's location is determined via triangulation. Furthermore, because radio signals only transmit in the air, duration of detected signals can be used to determine length of time turtles were spending on the surface of the water.

The database contains monthly measurements taken on captive reared sea turtles. Measurements include: straight carapace length nuchal notch to carapace tip, straight carapace width maximum width, body depth maximum, weight.

A survey was conducted in 2013 by NOAA Fisheries Mississippi Labs and the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) to collect data on angler fishing practices and sea turtle interactions. The survey was conducted as a pilot project from June-September at six different access points that were selected based on prior history of incidental captures and location so that surveys were conducted in all three coastal counties. Participating anglers were asked general questions about fishing practices such as typical fishing times and locations, and type of hook and bait used. They were also asked if they had caught or observed the capture of a sea turtle in the last 12 months and the outcome of the capture.

Effective management of marine turtle data is essential to maximize their research value and enable timely population assessments and recovery monitoring. To provide such capabilities at the National Marine Fisheries Service, a comprehensive Turtle Data Processing System (TDPS, formally called Marine Turtle Data Management System) was created. The system was written in DBase III and Clipper and implemented on IBM/PC-compatible computers running under MS-DOS. As of 2003, TDPS was upgraded into Microsoft Access. The TDPS is modular, supporting data of various types. Cross-referencing and multiple-encounter analysis are enabled through a core database file of individual turtle identifications, based on uniquely-inscribed flipper tags and passive-integrative transponder tags.