SANTIAGO—The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) today
applauded the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Convention
on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
for opposing the registration of the Cayman Turtle Farm as a
CITES approved breeding facility for green sea turtles. The
application, submitted by Great Britain and Northern Ireland on
behalf of the Cayman Islands, failed to receive the required
two-thirds majority from the member countries of CITES.
Green sea turtles are listed as endangered by IUCN The World
Conservation Union, and all green sea turtles populations have
been listed in Appendix I of CITES since 1981 prohibiting
international trade in green sea turtles and their products.
The Cayman Turtle Farm slaughters green sea turtles to sell
turtle meat to the local population on the island. If approved,
the CITES registration would allow the farm to also sell the
shells of these turtles to visiting tourists.
Three countries—Costa Rica, Israel, and the United
States—submitted formal objections to the registration proposal
in writing prior to the conference. During the discussion at
the conference in Santiago, Chile many other countries joined
them in voicing their objections to the registration, citing
serious concerns regarding the effect this will have on these
highly endangered and migratory species. Countries were
concerned that allowing this trade might stimulate demand for
sea turtle shells thus increasing the already existing illegal
trade. Many countries also felt that adequate enforcement to
prevent illegal trade would be even more difficult if this
registration were accepted. The United States in particular was
concerned about enforcement issues as many international
flights to and from the Cayman Islands go through the United
States and this would violate the U.S. Endangered Species
Act.
Furthermore, allowing this trade undermines efforts of other
international treaties such as the Specially Protected Areas of
Wildlife Protocol (SPAW) and the Inter-American Convention for
the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles (IAC) that aim
to protect sea turtles from all threats including international
trade.
According to Rebecca Crane, Program Manager for the United
Nations and Treaties department of The HSUS, "We find it
shocking that Great Britain would submit this application for a
facility which the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals (RSPCA) has publicly stated would fail to meet
United Kingdom animal welfare standards; especially since they
are such strong advocates for protecting whales."
Questions were also raised relating to the lack of the
required documentation to prove the legality of the acquisition
of turtles and eggs from the wild in other countries for the
original breeding stock at the farm. There is also the risk
that turtles that escape or are released from the farm could
pose serious threats to the health of wild populations of green
sea turtles due to possible adverse impact on their gene pools.
Furthermore, the turtles at the farm have been affected with
highly contagious diseases which could be passed on to wild
populations.
