Tobago Turtle Poaching

[Sparrow]

Hi Guys,

Does anyone have any recent information on the Turtle Poaching Operations in Tobago? :GEEK2:

I hear that the police do nothing about it over there and in 2001 Sea Shepherd protected Tobago beach's from Turtle Poachers..

some of the turtles targeted are the hawksbill and the leatherback, both are

critically endangered and are sought after for the meat, eggs and carapace. :dull:

[Angie]

Only that earth watch and volunteers are out there,thats about it

[dolphinlass]

Hi all, i was leading a team of 10 students this year until circumstance stepped in..spoke to triton and will post everything asap...here and on carib site. Save Our Seas Tobago have a base there which relys on tobagans and volunteers. There is also Coral Keys (another chrity based patrol), further up the island. I worked in Trinidad for 10 weeks, 2006..you really do not want to mess with a poacher yourself..we all had radios to call SOS and police (IF THEY COULD MAKE IT) T&T has a very high crime/rape/murder rate. There is a beach called 'hawksbill grave' (sorry greg x) where there are a lot of 'scooped out' shells..this is in charlotesville, north of the island. Hawksbill meat is very sought after there..island of paradise, eh? NO.

I wrote the Glasgow Uni Tobago prospectus and risk assessment in nov 2007..been trying to retrieve it...my pc is playing games and working on safe mode...will post asap. Will find year befores prospectus to show the work being done..thanks for bringing it up...im working on it! :)

[dolphinlass]

Save Our Seas Tobago

http://www.sos-tobago.org/

[Sparrow]

Wow, Hawksbills are critically endangered though.. Turtle Poaching sounds crazy :sad:

[dolphinlass]

yes it is crazy...there are many animals on cites list but still remain to be hunted/habitat destroyed etc. In sri lanka, poachers, once female on beach is laying, and she has dug her nest and laying begins, they stand beind her with a bag, collecting her eggs...horrible, eh?! Sea turtles do not reach sexual maturity, average 16...to survive predators, nets etc and to lay on a beach for poaching whole animal or eggs is indeed awful..

go to SOS tobago link which i have posted and i will have the material posted later today!

[dolphinlass]

These guys, which i mentioned on 2nd thread, work in tobago too..

http://cccturtle.org/velador.php?page=velart18

[Sparrow]

Cool Website! Lets show them Turtle Poachers .............muhahahaha

[dolphinlass]

indeedy spoggie! whaa haa ha ha!

[dolphinlass]

Tobago Expedition 2008

http://www.oceansentry.org/images/stories/tobagoexp/tobagoexp-00.jpg
An expedition is being proposed by members of the Glasgow
University Exploration Society to the island of Tobago in the summer
of 2008. The expedition is planned to last for ten weeks commencing at
the start of June and will comprise of ten undergraduate students with
some staff supervision.

The expedition will be working with an already established local, non-
governmental organisation, SOS Tobago. The aim of the expedition is to
work closely alongside the organisation and enable them to continue
conserving the local sea turtles and their coastal and marine
habitats. This will be divided into four key areas:


1. Protection and monitoring of the local turtle species.
2. Education and increasing public awareness.
3. Promotion of community-based ecotourism
4. Research and data collection, with a view to ascertain population
sizes and conservation priorities.


The expedition aims to provide the students involved with invaluable
fieldwork experience in the areas of research and conservation. The
hope is that this expedition will result in a productive and
beneficial summer for all involved and will continue to develop the
association between Glasgow University Exploration Society and the
organisation SOS Tobago. Four previous expeditions have taken place in
2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.


INTRODUCTION

http://www.oceansentry.org/images/stories/tobagoexp/tobagoexp-01.jpg
Map of Tobago, with study area highlighted The island of Tobago
(Figure 1) is of importance for the nesting activity of three species
of endangered sea turtles: the leatherback turtle, Dermochelys
coriacea; the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricate; and the green
turtle, Chelonia mydas. The leatherback turtle and the hawksbill
turtle are currently listed as critically endangered species on the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, whilst the green turtle is listed
as endangered. This means they are very vulnerable species and action
must be taken to prevent further decline. Female turtles from all
three species of marine turtle found in Tobago, are thought to return
to the same coastline to nest (Bass et al, 1996), which results in the
need for protection of their nesting beaches.


Legal background

Trinidad and Tobago has signed the Convention on Trade in Endangered
Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES). Accordingly, import or export of
sea turtles and their products with any of the signatory countries is
forbidden. Persons caught with such products face severe charges
although this is unreliably enforced.

The Trinidad and Tobago Conservation of Wildlife Act, chapter 67:01
addresses the protection and management of all wildlife and bans all
hunting from 1st March to 30th September. This law is currently being
revised and strengthened. Unfortunately, as it stands, the justice
system operating in Tobago struggles to catch and prosecute those who
violate this law.

The “protection of Turtle and Turtle Egg Regulations” under section 4
of the Local Fisheries Act of 1975 mandates that no person shall
catch, kill or sell any turtle during the nesting season (1st March to
30th September). It further bans turtle hunting within the near-shore
or reef throughout the rest of the year as well as making the
possession and sale of turtle eggs illegal year-round. This act has
also proven difficult to enforce.


SOS Tobago

Save Our Seaturtles (SOS) Tobago is the only group in Tobago
(governmental or NGO) focusing exclusively on sea turtle conservation.
The organisation was officially born in early 2000 by a group of
Tobagonians who have been patrolling beaches and conducting sea turtle
research and education in Tobago for over ten years. SOS Tobago has
been recognised both locally and internationally, and was awarded the
BP Amoco Leader award in Environmental Conservation in September 2000.
Their mission statement is “To conserve sea turtles and their coastal
and marine habitats in Tobago through community initiatives in
education, research and ecotourism”.


CLICK HER TO READ FULL REPORT (http://www.oceansentry.org/lang-es/menu-reports/41-reports-general/605-tobago-expedition-2008.html
"http://www.oceansentry.org/lang-en/menu-reports/41-reports-general/605-tobago-expedition-2008.html)



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[Angie]

Captain is in Puerto Rico watching over the sea turtles

[dolphinlass]

It has been a journey, nae, a journey of epic proportions to get this to all...i would like to thank ramon who stayed up til stupid o clock helping me, id like to thank my dog ,r beau for his cuddles..and all moderators that tried to help...sorry but ramons daa mannn! lol!

seriously, thanks everyone

[dolphinlass]

sorry, i forgot to say thanks to ramons wine to keep him sane whilst helping and a lot of chocolate also...thank you!

[Greg]

Well we could always write the government there and tell them that we are going to spread the word about their inactions in regards to the turtle poaching and ask people to boycott going to Tobago. Maybe if we can hit them where it hurts the most, i.e. tourist dollars then maybe they will take action.

[Sparrow]

Captain is in Puerto Rico watching over the sea turtles

I just read about that! isn't it cool..:v_SPIN:

[Donovan.]

Reminds me of those pesky radioactive turtles
http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:tZXDXU57Y48J:www.spc.int/coastfish/News/Trad/21/Trad21_3_Woodrom.pdf

[dolphinlass]

Well we could always write the government there and tell them that we are going to spread the word about their inactions in regards to the turtle poaching and ask people to boycott going to Tobago. Maybe if we can hit them where it hurts the most, i.e. tourist dollars then maybe they will take action.

Hey greg..am afraid that that would probably make the situation worse. As i said, T&T have very high crime rates, serious crime and, in a lot of areas that the tourists dont see, there exists a lot of poverty in a 'paradise' island. For example, Trinidad..you have post of spain in the north thriving, busy city, travel not even an hour away and its a very contrast picture..even forther south, where the tip of the island nears south america is a shockingly dangerous place to go..major route of illegal drugs. Trust me on that one, we were there in 2006. The point im making is that charities like SOS and CCC are vital to tobago - for protection of the sea turtles and, as you will see from full prospectus, provides education to a younger generation, who will see that there is ore money generated in the long run by protecting the beautiful creatures than poaching them. Ive posted the SOS link on the thread..hope ive explaied the matter ok!

[dolphinlass]

Captain is in Puerto Rico watching over the sea turtles

is he?? awww, want to go! well that was perfect timing for subject! has anyone heard about how its going?

[Sparrow]

Dunno... He just said thats where he was..

what a legend

[dolphinlass]

indeedy spoggie! hope i get the chance to meet him one day...ohh and EVERYONE here!lol

[Sparrow]

Indeed....

[dolphinlass]

Reminds me of those pesky radioactive turtles
http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:tZXDXU57Y48J:www.spc.int/coastfish/News/Trad/21/Trad21_3_Woodrom.pdf

pesky radioactive turtles? not their fault :(..didnt read whole paper but a fair bit of it..interesting stuff tho. Do they poach there? Perfect example of mans actions at time, still affecting life for decades later...thanks donovan.