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A diverse coalition of international NGOs from the USA and Europe, initiated by the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) and the Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles (MEDASSET), are condemning the UK government for approving a contentious shipment of 20 endangered green sea turtles from the Cayman Turtle Farm (CTF) to Sea Life Centres in England (3rd March 2006). A joint letter has been sent to the Ministers of Environment of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) authorities in each country, pressing them to censure the UK authorities and to prevent planned onward shipment of turtles to their countries. Joining the Government of Costa Rica in its objections, the group labelled the shipment as a violation of CITES.

The Cayman Turtle Farm, a government-owned facility, has a history of working to reopen international markets for sea turtle products. In its latest attempt to be registered under CITES as a captive-breeding facility, which would authorize international trade of turtle products from the farm, the farm failed to meet the required criteria. In particular, evidence submitted by the Government of Costa Rica showed that at least some of the founding stock was taken illegally from that country. The Farm also could not show its activities benefited wild populations. When CITES delegates indicated a lack of support for the CTF application, the UK withdrew the proposal that was submitted on behalf of the Cayman Islands The Cayman Farm’s policy of releasing a portion of its overflow of juvenile turtles into surrounding waters could pose serious threats to wild turtle populations. The Farm has yet to produce any scientific studies on the ramifications of crossbreeding various genetic stocks of green turtles and then having these hybrids released to mate with wild populations. There is also concern among sea turtle scientists and conservationists that diseases occurring in Cayman Farm-raised turtles could be spread to wild populations.

Objections to the Turtle Farm by conservationists extend only to those actions that have the potential to affect wild populations in the broader Caribbean and undermine international conservation efforts. These include releasing farm-raised turtles into the wild and re-establishing international demand for either turtle meat or shell products. Although the Farm may intend to feed that demand with only farm-raised animals, in reality such demand will inevitably lead to clandestine harvesting and the re-opening of black markets for wild turtles.

MEDASSET-Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles, 24 Park Towers, 2 Brick St., London W1J 7DD, U.K. <medasset@medasset.org> & Caribbean Conservation Corporation, 4424 NW 13th Street, Suite A-1, Gainesville, FL 32609 <david@cccturtle.org>.