Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan for Barbados - WIDECAST

CEP Technical Report No. 12
Page 14
4.121 Involve local coastal zone authorities
The Coastal Conservation Project Unit (CCPU) is the agency responsible for research and
monitoring of the coastal zone (including beaches and reefs) and acts as an advisory body to the
Town Planning Department, the Minister of Housing and Lands, and the Ministry of Labour,
Consumer Affairs and the Environment. The CCPU has been advised of the ways in which
coastal development affects sea turtles. They have already contributed useful ideas in
discussions about how conflicts between the needs of sea turtles and the economic and social
development needs of Barbados might be resolved. For instance, they have suggested that
endangered nests be relocated to safer beaches or to beach hatcheries, and that beach vegetation
receive similar protection to that given to trees over a certain size under the Trees (Preservation)
Act 1981.
At present the coastal zone is managed and legislation is enforced by several different
agencies. The National Conservation Commission (NCC) is responsible for the maintenance of
beaches, and also acts as an advisory body to the Minister of Housing and Lands for decisions
pertaining to the construction of beach recreational facilities, and prevention of beach erosion.
NCC personnel include rangers, wardens, life guards and beach cleaners. Rangers and wardens
have powers to arrest persons committing certain offences under the National Conservation Cap.
393. Beginning in 1991, NCC personnel have been incorporated into the programme (sponsored
by Bellairs Research Institute and the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Fisheries) that is presently monitoring sea turtle nesting activity (see also section 4.291).
Agency-specific measures recommended in the area of sea turtle conservation are discussed in
section 4.6.
4.122 Develop regulatory guidelines
The following actions are of fundamental importance to the sustained protection of sea
turtle nesting and foraging areas: (1) amend and/or rewrite existing coastal zone laws pending
suggestions arising from the institutional strengthening project, increase penalties to act as a
more serious deterrent, and strengthen enforcement efforts.
In addition to these general improvements, more specific regulations will be needed to
protect particularly important foraging or nesting areas. When areas are defined as especially
critical to remaining sea turtle populations, regulatory guidelines will be essential in order to
establish a framework within which appropriate land use and development (commercial, residential,
recreational) can occur. For instance, development proximal to important nesting beaches
should be required to design beach front lighting in such a way as to preclude or minimize the
disorientation of hatchlings or nesting adults (section 4.132). Construction of solid jetties and
beach walls, and activities such as sand mining (section 4.131) and dredging should be regulated
in such a way as not to result in the erosion of nesting beach habitat. Similarly, boaters should
be prevented from indiscriminate anchoring in reef or sea grass habitats (section 4.147) and from
discarding refuse at sea (section 4.144). These are, in many cases, common sense measures
which will not only defend important habitat for the benefit of endangered and declining sea
turtle populations, but also ensure that sensitive areas are properly safeguarded for future
generations of Barbadians.