Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Dominica moves to protect endangered sea turtles

Monday, June 12, 2006

by: Malaika Laurent
Caribbean Net News Dominica Correspondent
Email: malaika@caribbeannetnews.com

ROSEAU, Dominica: The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Agriculture are collaborating to protect sea turtles in Dominica, which are now on the verge of extinction.

At a recently held news conference, the Tourism and Agriculture Ministers both explained the significance of conserving leatherback turtles, which nest in Dominica, and also as a tourism product for turtle watching.

“The turtles are endangered without a doubt. We’re fully behind the turtle preservation programme, and what ROSTI is doing, it’s in the national interest, and it’s in tourism interest,” Tourism Minister Yvor Nassief said.

But Agriculture Minister John McIntyre believes that locals need to stop hunting sea turtles.

He said persons need to be properly educated on the turtle specie and adequate legislation needs to be in place and enforced.

“The biggest problem here is trying to enforce what exists (legislation) because turtles are protected on land, but if you go and catch them at sea, then there’s a problem here.

“I think what we need to do is look at it in terms of proximity from land as well as out in the sea and try to protect them. I am one who is going to push for the protection of turtles based on my stance; I will always push for conservation of various species.

“I’m always one who understands that we need to educate our people. I think we could achieve more by saving them and trying to promote more of our peaceful turtle watching programme in the night,” Minister McIntyre explained.

ROSTI (Rosalie Sea Turtle Initiative) observes and helps protect the turtles who visit Dominica for nesting.

Rowan Byrne, Rosti’s Manager explained that sea turtles spend one percent of their lives on a nesting beach, which is the most important event because they are reproducing and continuing their species.

According to Byrne, leatherback turtles are the most dominant species in Dominica, and the most critically endangered sea turtle, with less than 20,000 in the world.

“They are regionalised nesters within the Caribbean basin, which come from North America, Canada, Nova Scotia, France, Ireland, England and Wales. They travel across the Caribbean basin specifically to nest,” he said.

He too supports the education for locals to promote the long term objectives of preserving sea turtles.

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