THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2004
Help Stop Sea Turtle Poaching in Nicaragua!
Write President Bolaños!October 2004
By the Richland Center, WI/Santa Teresa Sister City Project.
October 2004. Chococente, one of Nicaragua's most important nesting sites for the Olive Ridley turtle is experiencing increasing levels of poaching, both at sea and on the nesting beach. Chococente is also one of the world's most important nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles. Here Olive Ridleys nest en masse, with thousands coming ashore over a period of a few days. This event, known as an "arribada," occurs at fewer than a dozen sites throughout the world.
At the other end of the Chococente beach is Veracruz de Acayo, where Olive Ridleys and a small but important population of the nearly extinct Pacific leatherback sea turtle comes to lay eggs. This is another center of illegal egg trade.
Nicaraguan environmental authorities have stated that fishermen at sea are catching and killing hundreds of female Olive Ridley turtles to extract their eggs. Additionally, poaching of eggs at beach nesting sites is rampant and uncontrolled. Eggs obtained illegally are being openly sold throughout Nicaragua. Silvio Echaverry, representative of the Environmental Ministry (MARENA) in the department of Carazo, said that the situation is serious and would give rise to judicial proceedings. No suspects have been captured so far (as of early October) but the police in Rivas are on the track of the merchants in that city who are suspected of trafficking in the eggs of the endangered turtle. In a recent meeting between MARENA officials, the police and the army, it was agreed that the authorities would proceed against all those involved in the killing of the turtles as well as the commercialization of the eggs.
Your letters to the President Enrique Bolaños can help generate pressure to increase enforcement actions to protect the sea turtles. The letters urge him to take action to end the poaching of sea turtles at and around the Chococente Wildlife Refuge. Nicaragua's environmental image may be severely damaged if the current high level of sea turtle poaching at sea and at nesting beaches is not immediately curtailed.
Sea turtles are listed as endangered species by the World Conservation Union, and under several international treaties to which Nicaragua is a party, including the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Inter-American Sea Turtle Treaty. In order to comply with international law and its own commitments, Nicaragua must restrict citizen activities that undermine the effectiveness of these treaties.
Your letter will urge President Bolaños to increase police presence within the coastal towns of El Astillero and Veracruz de Acayo, which are known illegal egg trade centers, and along the coastal highway corridor.
Write your own letter and send it by air-mail, fax, of e-mail to President Bolaños.
Presidente Enrique Bolaños
Casa Presidencial
Costado Norte de la Antigua Catedral
Managua, Nicaragua
Central America
Tel: 011-505-228-9090
Fax: 011-505-228-9298
presidente@presidencia.gob.ni
Dear President Bolanos:
Internationally, Nicaragua is gaining a reputation as a culturally rich country blessed with many natural wonders. Government efforts to increase the visibility of marine and coastal protected areas have successfully led to an increase in eco-tourism and investment. However, Nicaragua's environmental image may be severely damaged if the current high level of sea turtle poaching at sea and at nesting beaches is not immediately curtailed.
Sea turtles are listed as endangered species by the World Conservation Union, and under several international treaties to which Nicaragua is a party, including the Convention on trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Inter-American Sea Turtle Treaty. In order to comply with international law and its own commitments, Nicaragua must restrict citizen activities that undermine the effectiveness of these treaties.
Currently, it is public knowledge that fishermen at sea are catching and killing hundreds of female Olive Ridley sea turtles to extract their eggs. Additionally, poaching of eggs at beach nesting sites is rampant and uncontrolled. Eggs obtained illegally are being openly sold throughout Nicaragua. These activities, which are in violation of Nicaraguan law, are occurring in protected areas along the Pacific coast and in particular near the Chococente Wildlife Refuge.
We believe this situation could be curtailed by increasing police presence within the coastal towns of El Astillero and Veracruz de Acayo, known illegal trade centers, and along the coastal highway corridor.
We hope you will take immediate action to protect this critically endangered international resource.
Sincerely yours,
[your name]
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