PRESS RELEASE – THE Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT) says it is working with the Department of Fisheries in response to two incidents of illegal sea turtle harvesting within the Pointe Sable Environmental Protection Area (PSEPA) in Vieux Fort.
The first incident occurred last week when some concerned citizens came upon a turtle net in which four juvenile marine turtles were caught.
Noting that it was the closed season for hunting of sea turtles, the citizens informed the SLNT and the Department of Fisheries (DOF) of their discovery.
In addition, over the past weekend, a tour guide engaged in a sanctioned expedition to the Maria Islands Wildlife Reserve discovered a freshly culled sea turtle, the carcass of which was partially buried on the Maria Island beach.
The guests, who were part of the expedition, felt quite dismayed about the discovery and expressed their disdain for this illegal act.
According to a statement issued by the National Trust yesterday, “Both incidents are currently under investigation.”
However, according to Mr. Craig Henry, SLNT’s Programme Officer stationed within the PSEPA, “These acts – and particularly the latter –are most regrettable and punishable by law.”
Henry explained, “The closed season for turtles extends from January 1 to September 30 which coincides with sea turtle nesting season.
“The beaches of the PSEPA nests thousands of turtle hatchlings yearly due to the various species of marine turtles that make their way to the shores to lay their eggs.
“Sadly, the number of nesting females has decreased over the years as a result of mainly poaching activity”.
Henry said the SLNT “has made the protection and conservation of these critically endangered species a major priority.”
He added, “We have worked very closely with like-minded external and local partners to promote the sustainable use of the resource as Saint Lucia still has a traditional harvest of the fishery”.
However, failing populations of the major species like the hawksbills and leatherbacks, combined with the fervor and fondness of these marine animals have driven public pressure to act to conserve them.
In this light, many Caribbean Islands have either banned or adopted restricted policies regarding the harvest of marine turtles. This includes Barbados, Bahamas, Cuba, Antigua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and most recently Mexico – but not Saint Lucia.
On a related note, the SLNT also reminded the public that “access to the Maria Islands Wildlife Reserve is regulated by the Trust, as it is a protected habitat for some critical species, including the marine turtles which come to nest on its beaches, and thus anyone wishing to visit the islets are to contact the organization directly to arrange this visit.”
The Trust statement also pointed out that “Any unsanctioned visit would be considered an illegal act.”
Meanwhile, the Trust encourages anyone with information which could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators to contact the local police in Vieux Fort.
The SLNT is also appealing to the general public “to support conservation efforts to protect sea turtles island-wide. “