Anguilla News covers Anguilla and the wider
Caribbean.
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DFMR
expresses concern about the illegal catching of sea turtles
and taking of sea turtle eggs.
Date Posted: July 31, 2008.
Despite
a 15-year moratorium on the catching of sea turtles and the
taking of sea turtle eggs, it is increasingly becoming
apparent to the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources
(DFMR) that some residents are still catching turtles and
disturbing turtle nests.
During routine visits to Captain’s Bay last week and Monday
of this week, officers at DFMR observed a number of
disturbed turtle nests. In addition, officers recently
confiscated a trammel (turtle) net set in the near-shore in
the Forest Bay area. Furthermore, the Department has been
receiving reports about persons catching and selling turtle
meat illegally.
It is rather disturbing to know that persons living in
Anguilla are still continuing their destructive habits by
insisting on poaching turtles and their eggs. The efforts of
the Department to conserve these ancient and endangered
species will come to naught if the perpetrators of such acts
are not brought to justice.
While the catching of turtles and the eating of turtle eggs
may be traditional and cultural, it does not mean that it is
right. Although these animals may once have been exploited
when Anguilla’s marine habitat was still in a somewhat
pristine state and when turtle populations were much higher,
such activities, traditional or otherwise, cannot be
sustained or condoned.
The island’s coral reef and seagrass habitats have been
severely reduced and turtle populations are only a shadow of
their former numbers. Actions taken in ignorance in the past
should not and will not be allowed to continue in this
present day; we do not have the right to exploit every
living food source until the last of the species remains.
What would happen to the population numbers of human beings
if our children were taken before they had a chance to reach
reproductive age and most of the adult women and men were
taken from the population?
Residents are reminded that any person who takes or attempts
to take or causes to be taken any turtle, or slaughters,
buys, sells, exposes for sale or has in their possession
turtle meat or eggs is guilty of an offence. Any person
found guilty of this offence is liable on summary conviction
to a fine of EC $50,000 and to imprisonment for one year.
While there may be arguments about the extent of the fine,
the Department is more concerned about the deterrence of the
act of taking turtles and their eggs. All residents (and
illegal foreign fishers) are therefore being warned that the
Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources will not
tolerate such acts and all are expected to follow the law
accordingly.
