Last November, Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Larry Cartwright announced that long line fishing and the commercial harvesting of turtles would be prohibited. He was speaking at a Department of Marine Resources workshop where he stated the prohibition against harvesting commercial turtles would take effect on January 1 and a ban was set for April 1.
"Every conservation group in this country has endorsed this move by the government to end this particular harvest," said environmentalist Sam Duncombe in an interview with The Nassau Guardian yesterday. A notice from the Department of Marine Resources published in a July 2 edition of this newspaper indicated that the government was still seeking comment from the public on the matter. The notice invited comments to be directed to the director of the Department of Marine Resources up to July 3.
This issue of sea turtle conservation has received much attention from the public in letters to the editor and other forms of outcry for the government to make some progress on the issue. The Bahamas Sea Turtle Conservation Group recently held a town meeting and vigil to discuss the plight of turtles and resound the need to protect them.
"It's long overdue," Duncombe said with respect to the ban. "I've known In the almost 20 years that I have been doing conservation work that turtle species have been endangered. What are we waiting for," she asked, questioning how long before the ban is imposed.
Duncombe said, "We were given that for April, this ban on slaughter would come in to effect, but it was pushed back to July, now it's been pushed back again. At what point in time is the government going to listen to the scientists saying these animals need protection?"
She explained that it was critical to protect turtles because they have a very long reproductive cycle. "It takes some of those turtle species 50 years to reach maturity, so when you're looking at taking an animal at 25 years old, that animal has not even had the opportunity to put back any turtles into the system," she said. "We're playing Russian roulette with these animals. Does this governmemt want to be in part responsible for the extinction of a species," Duncombe asked.
The environmentalist said unless the turtles are protected now, some people will not have an opportunity to see a live turtle.
The Department of Marine Resources acknowledged that internationally, most species of marine turtles are considered to be endangered or seriously threatened. There are five species of marine turtle in The Bahamas: Green, Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Leatherhead and Olive Ridley turtles.
"The Bahamian commercial fishery is based on the Green and Loggerhead turtles. The two species used for food here are not regarded to be a major source of income for the average commercial fishermen," the department said. Despite the promise of the ban, the Department of Marine Resources said, the organization has been charged with the responsibility of conducting public consultations to contribute to the government's consideration on the matter".
BY JIMENITA SWAIN
Guardian Senior Reporter
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
"Every conservation group in this country has endorsed this move by the government to end this particular harvest," said environmentalist Sam Duncombe in an interview with The Nassau Guardian yesterday. A notice from the Department of Marine Resources published in a July 2 edition of this newspaper indicated that the government was still seeking comment from the public on the matter. The notice invited comments to be directed to the director of the Department of Marine Resources up to July 3.
This issue of sea turtle conservation has received much attention from the public in letters to the editor and other forms of outcry for the government to make some progress on the issue. The Bahamas Sea Turtle Conservation Group recently held a town meeting and vigil to discuss the plight of turtles and resound the need to protect them.
"It's long overdue," Duncombe said with respect to the ban. "I've known In the almost 20 years that I have been doing conservation work that turtle species have been endangered. What are we waiting for," she asked, questioning how long before the ban is imposed.
Duncombe said, "We were given that for April, this ban on slaughter would come in to effect, but it was pushed back to July, now it's been pushed back again. At what point in time is the government going to listen to the scientists saying these animals need protection?"
She explained that it was critical to protect turtles because they have a very long reproductive cycle. "It takes some of those turtle species 50 years to reach maturity, so when you're looking at taking an animal at 25 years old, that animal has not even had the opportunity to put back any turtles into the system," she said. "We're playing Russian roulette with these animals. Does this governmemt want to be in part responsible for the extinction of a species," Duncombe asked.
The environmentalist said unless the turtles are protected now, some people will not have an opportunity to see a live turtle.
The Department of Marine Resources acknowledged that internationally, most species of marine turtles are considered to be endangered or seriously threatened. There are five species of marine turtle in The Bahamas: Green, Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Leatherhead and Olive Ridley turtles.
"The Bahamian commercial fishery is based on the Green and Loggerhead turtles. The two species used for food here are not regarded to be a major source of income for the average commercial fishermen," the department said. Despite the promise of the ban, the Department of Marine Resources said, the organization has been charged with the responsibility of conducting public consultations to contribute to the government's consideration on the matter".
BY JIMENITA SWAIN
Guardian Senior Reporter
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
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