Marine Turtle Newsletter 67:31-35, © 1994
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Marine Turtle Newsletter 67:31-35, © 1994
SHELL SMUGGLER ARRESTED IN JAPAN-The second arrest in Japan's history in connection with an attempt to smuggle hawksbill turtle shell into the country was made last March. On 2 March 1994, Japanese Customs seized 587 kg of hawksbill shell at Osaka Itami airport. On 21 June, charges were brought for violations of the Tariffs Law. The importer declared 43 cases of horn and oxen hoof, but hid the hawksbill shell, allegedly purchased in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) in February, among the horns and hooves. We estimate the 587 kg of shell to be the equivalent of 500 hawksbill turtles. The market price is estimated at ¥80 million (US$ 800,000) in Japan. The importer, Yoshikazu Tsuji (44 years old), is a dealer of jewelry and accessories in Osaka Kashiwara city. He is a shell artisan and stated that since the import of hawksbill shell (bekko) has been prohibited, his company is almost broke. The Japanese government established a zero quota on the import of hawksbill shell in January 1993 and formally withdrew its CITES reservation on the species in July 1994. Source: TRAFFIC(Japan), in litt. 18 August 1994.
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TORTOISESHELL SUBSTITUTE-Japanese scientists are in the process of developing a substitute for tortoiseshell. By dissolving sheets of silk in a concentrate of calcium chloride and forming the substance into 0.1-0.2 mm thick sheets, they can manufacture a material that resembles tortoiseshell; the sheets can then be laminated to the thickness required for items such as hair combs and spectacle frames. It is estimated that in two years' time the product will be ready for use, a fact that should be welcomed by the Japanese tortoiseshell industry which was dealt a blow following a ban on the importation of hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) shell in December 1992. Source: FFA News Digest, 1993, No. 4 [cited in TRAFFIC Bulletin, 1994, 14(3):87].
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SEA TURTLE SHELLS SEIZED IN ITALY-The Customs anti-fraud unit (SVAD) has apprised the Italian representative of TRAFFIC Europe of the seizures undertaken, in collaboration with the Forest Corps, at Fiumicino airport, Rome, during 1993. A total of 160 CITES violations were detected and are under judicial review. The following items were seized: 185 kg worked ivory, 42 sea turtle shells, 10 stuffed crocodilians, 8 felid skins, 629 reptile leather items, 256 live parrots, 1 live monkey, 83 mounted butterflies, and 62 kg of corals. The new Italian CITES legislation and improved communication between Customs and the Forest Corps are allowing for more rigorous controls at the border checkpoints. Source: TRAFFIC Bulletin, 1994, 14(3):114.
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GREEK CONSERVATION GROUP SELECTED FOR TUI AWARD-On 22 July 1994, at a Press Conference held in Athens by Touristik Union International (TUI), the Board of the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece (STPS) was presented with the 1993/1994 TUI Environmental Award. TUI is one of the leading tour operators in the world. With its "Support for the Environment" campaign, TUI aims to give practical encouragement to internationally trail-blazing activities in environmental protection. The award was presented to STPS for ten years of persistent efforts in the areas of monitoring, environmental education, public awareness programs, rescue and rehabilitation of sea turtles, and its struggle for the promotion of environmentally friendly tourism. This international recognition is yet another strong tool in promoting the National Marine Park on Zakynthos and strengthening the cooperation between local communities, hoteliers and conservationists in order to achieve this goal. Source: Dimitrios Dimopoulos, STPS Secretary General, in litt. August 1994.
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ADJUST TEDs AND SAVE TURTLES-Shrimpers fishing in the South Atlantic [southeastern U. S. waters] and Gulf of Mexico are being asked to modify turtle excluder devices (TEDs) to help ensure the release of sea turtles from shrimping nets. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is asking shrimpers fishing in federal and state waters from North Carolina, south through Texas, to attach specified floats to all bottom exiting hard TEDs, except those constructed of aluminum tubing, if not already doing so. Additionally, shrimpers are being asked to check the angle of their TEDs to ensure the device is within the required 30 to 50 degrees from horizontal position. Fisheries service officials believe that by adding the floats and ensuring the proper grid angle, more turtles will escape some shrimp trawls unharmed. Recent observations indicate that some shrimpers are fishing their nets with TEDs dragging on the sea bottom. This coupled with improper grid angles may be contributing to the more than 200 sea turtles that have washed ashore in the region during the last several months. Source: excepted from U. S. Dept. Commerce, NOAA/NMFS Press Release, 14 June 1994.
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LAW SUIT FILED TO FORCE TED USE WORLDWIDE-The Earth Island Institute, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Humane Society of the U. S., the Sierra Club and their combined membership of over 2 million U. S. citizens, joined by the Georgia Fisherman's Association filed suit today in the U. S. Customs Court. The suit charges the Departments of State and Commerce have failed to enforce the 1989 International Sea Turtle Conservation Amendments to the Endangered Species Act, which require nations who wish the privilege of exporting shrimp into the U.S. to use "comparable" sea turtle conservation measures (i.e., equip shrimp trawlers with TEDs) [see MTN 48:31]. If the law suit is successful, present regulations will require all 80 nations that export shrimp to the U.S. to use TEDs. If all nations adopted TEDs, the action could reduce the incidental capture of sea turtles by at least 155,000 per year, according to Earth Island Institute figures. Source: Todd Steiner, Earth Island Institute, in litt. 22 September 1994.
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STRANDING AND RESCUE IN GREECE-During 1993 a total of 63 sea turtle strandings were reported to the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece (STPS), 49 of which were dead. Six animals were treated on the premises of the Hellenic Wildlife Hospital of Aegina, all of which suffered head injuries caused by pointed objects. Most of the strandings were recorded in Zakynthos (25.3%) and in west and southwest Peloponnese (22%). Out of a total of 16 strandings reported from Zakynthos, 14 animals were dead (of which 8 were killed by propellers and 4 by pointed objects), one suffered heavy injuries caused by a propeller and died immediately after it was found by STPS volunteers, and one was successfully treated by members of the STPS for heavy injuries on the front right flipper caused by entanglement in fishing nets and released. Source: STPS Turtle Tracks, 1994, No. 6.
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JAPANESE TO TRACK SEA TURTLES BY SATELLITE-In order to better understand the ecology of sea turtles, the [Japanese] Fisheries Agency plans to track by satellite the migratory routes of the animals, which come ashore in Japan to lay their eggs. Over the five years beginning in 1994, the Agency will place radio transmitters on about 100 sea turtles in order to conduct a large-scale study of the movements of an animal whose ecology is not yet clearly understood. The Fisheries Agency has determined that about 6,000 sea turtles come ashore in Japan each year to lay eggs. But virtually nothing is known about where the turtles go to migrate and feed after laying their eggs. In an effort to learn more, the Agency plans to strap or glue small radio transmitters to the backs of sea turtles that come ashore to lay eggs, and then use satellites to track their migratory routes, determine how deep [and how often] they dive. The Agency has chosen the loggerhead turtle and the green turtle as its study subjects, and is also considering including the endangered hawksbill turtle. Source: excerpted from Japan Calling, an official publication of the Government of Japan.
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WILDLIFE TRADE EDUCATION KIT-The Wildlife Trade Education Kit, produced by WWF-US, has been updated (3rd edition) and will be available in June 1994. The kit comprises 80 color slides and a revised slide-show script, in addition to fact sheets, quiz games, a glossary and bibliography. It is aimed at a general audience of secondary education level and above, but may also be modified to a younger audience. The kit focuses on the USA, but also provides international coverage. The price of the kit is US$ 45.00 plus shipping and handling costs and can be ordered from WWF Publications, P. O. Box 4866, Hampden Post Office, Baltimore, Maryland 21211 USA. Orders should be accompanied by a check drawn from a U. S. bank, made out in U. S. currency; MasterCard and Visa are acceptable. Tel: (410) 516-6951; Fax: (410) 516-6998. Source: TRAFFIC Bulletin, 1994, 14(3):87.
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NEW SEA TURTLE RECOVERY COORDINATOR-On 6 June 1994, Ms. Sandy MacPherson assumed the duties of Sea Turtle Recovery Coordinator for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Southeast Region (Region 4). Former Coordinator Renne Lohoefener is working in the FWS Division of Endangered Species in Washington, D. C. Ms. MacPherson is based in Florida at U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6620 Southpoint Drive S., Suite 310, Jacksonville, Florida 32216; Tel: (904) 232-2580; Fax: (904) 232-2404.
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NOTICE OF LIGHTING VIOLATION-In May 1994, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service served a notice of violation to The Breakers Condominium Association in Melbourne Beach, Florida, for take of sea turtle hatchlings from disorientation caused by the condominium's stairwell lights. The notice proposed a US$ 45,000 civil penalty assessment against the Association. Since the notice was served, the Association has installed aluminum flashing [to shield the lights from the beach] as recommended in a July 1992 letter from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and lighting will be extinguished in some locations until the turtle hatching period is over. In addition, the Association has notified all residents to turn off any exterior lighting on their beachside balconies and to close all blinds and draperies after 2100 hr each night. Source: Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region Sea Turtle Recovery Update, June 1994.
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TURTLES DRAWN TO LIGHTS OF DEATH-Ankara, Turkey-Many newborn sea turtles head towards artificial lights on beaches away from the sea after they hatch. As a result they die from exposure to the sun the next day. Can Osten, Natural Life Protection Association (DHKD) project assistant, reported that sea turtles have started hatching on Mediterranean beaches [including] Dalyan, Dalaman, Fethiye Calis, Patara, Kale, Kumluca, Mavikent, Tekirova, Olympos, Belek, Kizilot, Gazipasa, Anamur, Goksu Deltoid, Kazanli, Akyatan and Samandagi. Osten said the mother turtles return to the sea after burying their eggs in the sand. "The artificial lights on the beaches are very harmful to the hatchlings. Unfortunately, thousands of them go directly towards land instead of sea, disoriented by the lights. The beaches are full of dead [loggerhead turtles], Caretta caretta. The artificial lights must be prohibited in their reproduction areas. One single light may kill hundreds of young turtles. We mustn't be ignorant." Source: excerpted from Turkish Daily News, 29 July 1994.
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FRIENDS OF THE TURTLE THREATEN COURT ACTION-A UK-based environmental group is threatening to take the environmental ministry to court unless it enforces a 1990 zoning law aimed at protecting the most important nesting area of the endangered Mediterranean loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta. "We are prepared to take legal action against the state at the European Union to force it to demolish these illegal buildings ... and [yesterday] we served officials notice on the ministry, Zakynthos prefecture and about 40 local and national departments," Lily Venizelos, President of the Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtle, told the Athens News. She added that although the turtle is protected under the Berne Convention, the previous conservative government had allowed tourist development on the sand dunes of Laganas Bay where the turtles nest. Last month the ministry started flattening illegal buildings in a bid to clean up Greece's coastlines and protected areas. Source: Athens News, 16 June 1994.
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VEHICLES BANNED TO PROTECT NESTS-Opponents of beach-access limits to protect sea turtle nests in Daytona Beach, Florida [USA], are suing to overturn a provision that bans driving on the beach between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Volusia county enacted the ban after federal official threatened to close the beach to vehicles during the nesting season, May 1 to October 30. Source: excerpted from USA Today (Nationline), 26 July 1994.
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TURTLE'S SIGHT RETURNS AFTER CATARACT OPERATION-Two ophthal-mologists in Baltimore [Maryland, USA] have successfully operated on a loggerhead turtle's cataracts, enabling the animal to see, and perhaps to return to the wild. The 93-pound turtle, believed to be about 15 years old, was found on October 23 [1993] by a fisherman in Virginia Beach's Rudee Inlet. Found with fish hooks in its neck and bilateral cataracts in both eyes, the turtle was emaciated, virtually blind and floating helplessly. The animal, whose sex can't be determined because of its youth, was transferred to the National Aquarium in Baltimore in December. The surgery was performed by a veterinarian ophthalmologist, Dr. Kelly Corcoran of the Animal Eye Clinic, who operated on one of the turtle's eyes, and Dr. Gregory Ogawa of the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, who removed the cataract from the other eye. The turtle will be moved soon into a larger pool at the aquarium, and its reactions and senses will be watched closely. If it continues to show improvement and is able to swim toward food and catch it, it will be released into the coastal waters off Virginia Beach next month. Source: The Washington Post (Around the Nation), 19 July 1994.
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ARCHIE CARR NWR-The President's Budget for fiscal year 1995 requested Congress to appropriate US$ 7 million for Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge land acquisition. In June, the House of Representatives cut the requested amount of $2 million. In July, the Senate recommended that no funds be appropriated for the refuge. The House and Senate recommendations are expected to go to Conference in September. Source: Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region Sea Turtle Recovery Update, August 1994.