Surfbirds News

Conservationists have applauded the decision as a lifeline for the Caribbean’s endangered marine turtles and the communities that co-exist with them. It benefits all turtle species hatching on beaches throughout the Caribbean and coming regularly to feed in Cuban waters, including the critically endangered hawksbill turtle.

“For many years, Cuba retained a legal “fishery” of 500 hawksbills a year, with the hope of being able to trade their shells internationally, said Dr. Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF International’s Species Programme.

Green Turtle, an endangered species that will now benefit © Matthew Hobbs

“This far-sighted decision represents an outstanding outcome for Cuba, for the wider Caribbean, and for conservation. Cuba is to be commended for the example it has set in intelligent decision-making informed by science and the long term best interests of its people,” she added.

The phase out of the marine turtle fishery in Cuba is the result of a joint effort by WWF and the Cuban Ministry of Fisheries, with financial support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

The two remaining fishing communities that used to harvest marine turtles in Cuba will be helped with funds and technical assistance to find sustainable economic alternatives, modernize their fishing fleets, re-train their inhabitants and engage them in hawksbill turtle protection activities.

The WWF/CIDA grant of over $US 400.000 will also support the Ministry's Centre for Fisheries Research to become a regional hub for marine turtle conservation and research, capitalizing on decades of experience by leading Cuban scientists. It will also strengthen the Office for Fisheries Inspection (the Cuban Fisheries law enforcement group) to ensure compliance with the ban.

Along with other marine turtles, Hawksbill turtles are threatened by the loss of nesting and feeding habitats, egg collection, entanglement in fishing gear, climate change, and pollution. But the main threat to the Hawksbills comes from continuing illegal trade in tortoiseshell.

The species is now classified as critically endangered after population declines estimated at 80 per cent over the last century. Its preference for feeding on sponges also means it plays a significant but until recently unappreciated role in the continued health of coral reefs, by opening up new feeding opportunities for some varieties of reef fish.

The decision can be found at:

http://www.cadenagramonte.cubaweb.cu/noticias/enero_08/190108_01.asp

The species that will benefit from Cuba’s decision are the green, loggerhead, and hawksbill turtles. Greens and loggerheads are endangered, while hawksbills are critically endangered, according to the IUCN Red List and international trade in hawksbill turtle products is banned under the CITES convention. The ban reduces the pressure on turtles from hunting for meat and tortoiseshell.