THE ANCIENT GIANTS ONCE PLENTIFUL IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN HAVE PLUMMETED IN NUMBERS OVER THE LAST  YEARS FROM THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO AN ESTIMATED  WORLDWIDE ON TUESDAY SCIENTISTS MARINE RESEARCHERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS GATHERED TO BRAINSTORM A STRATEGY TO STOP THE TREND WE NEED TO FIND SOME SOLUTIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE VERY FEW YEARS LEFT SAID TODD STEINER DIRECTOR OF THE SEA TURTLE RESTORATION PROJECT WHICH IS SPONSORING THE WEEKLONG LEATHERBACK INTERNATIONAL SURVIVAL CONFERENCE COMMERCIAL FISHING AND DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL PROPERTY WHERE THE TURTLES LAY EGGS ARE THE LARGEST THREATS TO THEIR POPULATION SAID MARINE RESEARCHER SYLVIA EARLE