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Marine Turtle Newsletter 63:26-27, © 2001

1995 Declared 'Year of the Sea Turtle' in the Western Pacific

Resolution: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Regional Marine Turtles Conservation Programme Meeting, 9-11 June 1993

Recognising the intrinsic values of turtles, and their special cultural and nutritional value to the present inhabitants and future generations of many peoples of the Pacific region;

Recognising that the Pacific region contains some of the last remaining significant populations of sea turtles in the world;

Conscious of the achievements of the Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Programme over the last 3 years and that significant steps have already been taken in turtle conservation, monitoring and research in the Pacific region;

Acknowledging that turtles are migratory species that are shared resources between countries both inside and outside the region, and that there is a need to protect this resource for present and future generations;

Noting that there is a continuing and serious decline of turtle populations throughout the Pacific region, to the point where they are endangered;

Recognising that current levels of commercial and subsistence harvesting cannot be sustained on these depleted populations;

Recommend that:

1. There be an immediate and substantial reduction in the numbers of turtles being killed throughout the region;
2. Countries of the region be encouraged to ban international trade in turtles and turtle products;
3. Countries of the region be encouraged to introduce a moratorium, or where possible a permanent cessation, on within-country commercial transactions of turtles and turtle products, allowing only cultural and/or subsistence takes;
4. That 1995 be ceremonially considered the "Year of the Sea Turtle" in the Pacific region, and that whenever and wherever possible and practical, on a voluntary basis, restraint be exercised in the killing of turtles for all purposes.