Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan for Barbados - WIDECAST

CEP Technical Report No. 12
for the legislation to be revised to protect adults and near-adults (>24 in [60 cm] shell length) in
all areas. Measures to protect habitat and nests are very important, but the protection of large
juveniles (nearing breeding age) and adults must have priority. Regardless of the expense and
care taken to protect habitat, eggs, and juvenile life stages, declining populations are not likely to
recover if the larger size classes are not fully protected. It is inevitable that we will lose our sea
turtles in Barbados if we continue to harvest egg-laying females.
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4.234 Unprotected species
Species are not named in current turtle legislation, but the emphasis is on the protection
of nesting females and therefore primarily hawksbills. As presently written, the legislation offers
no protection to non-nesting sea turtles of any species >30 lbs in weight. All five sea turtle
species actually or potentially occurring in the waters of Barbados (see section II) should be
named specifically in revised legislation and included in the proposed moratorium.
4.24 Augment existing law enforcement efforts
At present, the general public (from fishermen to tour operators to hoteliers) is effectively
augmenting law enforcement efforts by reporting the poaching of nesting females. The police
are being called upon with increasing frequency to deal with incidents of turtle poaching.
Unfortunately, these incidents are of low priority to an already over-extended police force, and
the Coast Guard is primarily concerned with law-breaking at sea. The suggestion that all aspects
of coastal zone law enforcement be the responsibility of one agency rather than several
(Atherley, 1987) is fully supported by this Recovery Action Plan. It will be necessary for these
personnel to receive specific training in environmental legislation and its enforcement.
4.25 Make fines commensurate with product value
The present fine of Bds. $100 and forfeiture of gear is insufficient to deter violators.
Most sea turtles are caught on the beach, meaning that there is no gear to forfeit. Not only does
the market value of a turtle (on average, Bds. $200-300) substantially exceed the fine, but the
size of the fine is itself a reflection of the lack of seriousness with which the offense is viewed.
It is the recommendation of this Recovery Action Plan that the penalty for violation of the
proposed sea turtle legislation be set at a minimum of Bds. $1,000 (US $500).
4.26 Investigate alternative livelihoods
It is unlikely that alternative livelihoods for turtle fishermen will need to be considered in
Barbados. Turtle fishing is conducted by only a few persons, and then only as a supplement to
other fishing activities. Similarly, encountering a nesting turtle is simply a fortuitous bonus that
supplements primary employment. Craftsmen who use turtle products utilize other natural
resources, such as coral and shells, as well. It seems likely that restrictions on the use of local
coral for jewelry-making will also be necessary soon, so local craftsmen will be forced to look
for alternative materials (e.g., seeds and wood).