Global News - January 2008

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Cuba bans turtle hunt

Wed 23 January 2008 13:00 UK — North America,Marine Wildlife

Officials in Cuba have announced a ban on the hunting of endangered marine turtles, including the critically endangered hawksbill variety.

Until now the country's fishermen have been permitted by the Cuban government to hunt 500 hawksbills a year to maintain turtle shell exports.

However, Reuters reported that the authorities have introduced the ban to allow the turtles' populations to increase, following pressure from conservationists.

The Cuban Fisheries Ministry's director of regulations, Elisa Garcia, told the website that the ban would remain in place "until it is scientifically proven that the species is recovering."

Two communities that have, until this latest decision, been permitted to hunt the turtles, will receive funding from the Canadian International Development Agency to explore alternative sources of income and improve their fishing fleets.

Between 1960 and 1990, UNESCO reported that roughly 150,000 hawksbill turtles were caught along Cuba's coastline.

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