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Marine Turtle Newsletter 4:1, © 1977

Editorial

Below we print a copy of a letter from Professor Archie Carr to Sir Peter Scott on the current status of the Atlantic ridley, Lepidochelys kempi. With a mere 1200 turtles nesting at Rancho Nuevo, the only rookery in the world of any importance for this species, a crisis has been reached. Short of complete protection of the nesting areas and offshore water there is little that can be done. It might well help, however, if everyone receiving this newsletter could write to one or both of the Mexican officials concerned (see item 5 below), expressing their concern, telling him of their own efforts in marine turtle conservation, and supporting any action they could take.

In writing letters the following points may be helpful:

1. Letters should be informed, respectful and not too long.
2. Letters from countries other than the U.S.A. would be particularly valuable. It is important that the authorities in Mexico are reminded about the turtle conservation programs going on in many parts of the world, and how their actions could complement these efforts.
3. Ideally, letters should be in Spanish, but if this is not readily done, then it is much preferable to send a letter now in any language rather than waiting for translation
4. A model letter, similar to one sent by Professor Carr, is printed below; if basing your letter on this one, please rephrase it to avoid the appearance of a stereotyped tract.
5. Send letters to:
   Dr. Jorge Carranza F.
   Director
   Instituto Nacional de Pesca
   Chiapas 121
   Mexico D.F., Mexico
   
   Fernando Rafful
   Dept de Pesca
   Av. Alvero Obregon 286
   Mexico 7 D.F.
   Mexico
6. It will be helpful if you could send a copy of your letter to the editor of this newsletter so that we can form some impression of the message the authorities in Mexico are receiving.

Please read what Archie Carr has written and please take time to write a letter. The sum of many small individual efforts can sometimes be enormously important. Without action there may soon be one less species of marine turtle.