| *Text
of the Inter-American Convention for the Protection
and Conservation of Sea Turtles
The Parties to this Convention:
Recognizing the rights and duties of States established
in international law, as reflected in the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982,
relating to the conservation and management of living
marine resources;
Inspired by the principles
contained in the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment
and Development;
Considering the principles
and recommendations set forth in the Code of Conduct
for Responsible Fishing adopted by the Conference
of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of
the United Nations in its 28th Session evidence, species
of sea turtles in the Americas are threatened or endangered,
and that some of these species may face an imminent
risk of extinction;
Acknowledging the
importance of having the States in the Americas adopt
an agreement to address this situation through an
instrument that also facilitates the participation
of States from other regions interested in the worldwide
protection and conservation of sea turtles, taking
into account the widely migratory nature of these
species;
Recognizing that sea
turtles are subject to capture, injury or mortality
as a direct or indirect result of humanrelated activities;
*Decline
of the Dermochelys coriacea turtle in the Pacific
of the Americas!
The Dermochelys coriacea or leatherback turtle, has
inhabited the planet for 110 million years, surviving
even the extinction of the dinosaurs. Today, the IUCN
classifies it as a critically-endangered species,
due to a decline of 80% of the global population during
the past 10 years. The main causes are related to
human activities. If concrete actions are not taken
to ensure conservation of the leatherback, we could
very well witness its extinction in our lifetime.
*Sea
turtles: future?
Due to unsustainable activities carried out by humans,
the populations of the six species of sea turtle of
the Americas are in danger of extinction.
*Loggerhead
turtles in the Mediterranean under threat
Uncontrolled tourism and rapid development of Greece’s
beaches continue to effect the long-term survival
of the largest nesting population of Mediterranean
loggerhead turtles on the Greek island of Zakynthos.
Some 800–1,100 loggerhead
nests can be found in the National Marine Park of
Zakynthos, but poor management and lack of government
support is threatening the future of this endangered
marine turtle.
*Scores
of marine turtles entangled in Indonesian nets
Following the deaths of some 140 marine turtles drowned
in nets off Indonesia's Panjang Island, WWF and The
Nature Conservancy are calling for the establishment
of a marine protected area in the waters north-west
of Borneo.
Deliberately targeted for their high-market value,
170 turtles were found entangled and drowned in nets.
Of the 144 that died, 141 were green turtles and 3
were hawksbills. Of the seven marine species, six,
including green and hawksbills turtles, are critically
endangered.
*Sea
turtles threatened by rising seas
Climate change is warming the earth. Ice is melting
and sea levels have started to rise. This causes damage,
with serious consequences for nature and for coastal
communities.
Scientists have
now looked at the impacts of sea level rise on sea
turtles. These ancient animals lay their eggs into
the beach sand. Many turtle species return to the
exact beaches that they were hatched to lay the eggs
for the next generation of turtles.
|
