This study will review recent assessments on the status and trends of sea turtle populations which occur in U.S. waters during all or a portion of their life cycle. The study will evaluate the state of the science and research in terms of population assessment capabilities and data required to improve assessments. The study will review the utility of existing research programs that provide information for assessing and managing sea turtle populations in the context of current recovery plans. The report will include a discussion of current methods used to assess the status of sea turtle populations and to estimate known mortality. Recommendations will focus on the research, monitoring, and data needed to improve sea turtle population assessments in the short- and long-term, such as genetic analyses, telemetry, and mark-recapture studies, taking into account the effectiveness, cost, and timeliness of various data collection methods. The committee will also recommend improvements to existing models, highlight limitations in current methods, identify potential new avenues for modeling, and suggest methods for making sea turtle population data available for incorporation into a wide range of models and meta-analytical studies.The project is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The start date for the project is September 16, 2008. A final report will be issued approximately 18 months from the start date.Note: The project duration has been extended. The report is expected to be issued by summer 2010.