Sea turtles may soon be extinct

THE EDITOR: I would like to commend you for bringing attention to the deplorable trend of hunting sea turtles for meat in your country (Sean Douglas, “Slaughter on the local beaches; Outcry over turtles,” Mon 19, 2004). Sea turtles are a vital pulse of the health of our oceans. As a result of poaching, killing for meat, the destruction of their beach nesting habitats, longline and trawl fishing, and pollution, sea turtles are seriously endangered.

The ancient Leatherback sea turtle, for example, swam with the dinosaurs but may go extinct within our lifetime if we do not reserve their decline. Their female nesting population has collapsed by 95 percent in the past 22 years alone. Not only is the hunting and sale of endangered sea turtles a violation of the CITES treaty, but it gives Trinidad and Tobago a negative reputation that will have long-term consequences for its ability to draw visitors who are charmed by your beautiful country but horrified that this slaughter would be allowed to continue.

ROBERT OVETZ PhD
Marine Species Campaigner
Sea Turtle Restoration Project
P O Box 400
Forest Knolls, CA 94933 USA

+1 415 488 0370 ext 106
www.seaturtles.org