MTN 57:12-15 Resolutions of the Second Meeting and Workshop of the Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Programme (RMTCP)

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Resolutions of the Second Meeting and Workshop of the Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Programme (RMTCP)

(Noumea, New Caledonia, 12-14 August 1991)

RESOLUTION ON TURTLE EXPLOITATION IN INDONESIA

Recognising that green turtles are a highly migratory species and that available tag recapture data indicates movement of green turtles between the South Pacific Region and the South East Asian Region,

Noting that there are very heavy levels of turtle harvesting and exploitation occurring in the waters surrounding Indonesia and that the Bali Turtle Market is one of the largest in South East Asia,

The Steering Committee of the South Pacific Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Programme:

Urges the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to:

note its concern at the level of commercial trade in green turtles centered around Bali;
enter into discussions at the regional level to develop co-operative arrangements for the management and conservation of green turtles in the South East Asian Region; and
co-operate with the countries of the South Pacific region on inter-regional initiatives for marine turtle conservation and management.

RESOLUTION ON REGIONAL CO-OPERATION ON TURTLE CONSERVATION

Noting the resolution of the Fourth South Pacific Conference on National Parks and Protected Areas calling for the endorsement of the South Pacific Regional Marine Turtle Conservation and Management Programme by the 1990 SPREP IGM Meeting,

Further noting the recent progress made with the development of a regional co-operative approach to the conservation and management of marine turtles in the South Pacific region through the South Pacific Regional Marine Turtle Conservation and Management Programme,

Again recognising the highly migratory behaviour of marine turtles and the cultural and subsistence importance of these animals to the people of the countries of the South Pacific,

Recognising also that the conservation and management of marine turtles require both national initiatives and international and regional co-operation,

The Steering Committee of the South Pacific Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Programme:

Recommends:

that consideration be given to the negotiation of a regional agreement for the conservation of threatened migratory marine species, particularly marine turtles, in the form of a protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Environment and Natural Resources of the South Pacific (the SPREP Convention) by the Parties to that Convention, and
that the island countries of the South Pacific region give strong consideration to accession to the Washington Convention (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora-CITES), which provides for the protection of five out of the six species of marine turtles occurring in the South Pacific.

RESOLUTION ON JAPANESE BEKKO TRADE

Recognising that the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is traditionally valuable for the countries of the South Pacific region,

Noting that Japan is the largest importer of hawksbill turtle scales (known as bekko) in the world and that Japan has increased its imports of bekko from the South Pacific in recent years,

Further noting that Japan has recently announced that it will stop importing bekko at the end of 1992,

The Steering Committee of the South Pacific Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Programme:

Congratulates the Government of Japan on its decision to end its imports of bekko, which will greatly assist the conservation of hawksbill turtles in the South Pacific region,

Urges the Government of Japan to remove its reservations on the Appendix I listing of sea turtles under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) as soon as possible.

RESOLUTION ON ARNARVON WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, SOLOMON ISLANDS

Recognising that the Arnarvon Island Group in Isabel Province, Solomon Islands is one of the largest and most important nesting sites for the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) in the Solomon Islands, and a significant rookery for this species in the South Pacific region,

Noting that there has been a decline in the number of hawksbill turtles nesting in this area in recent years and that hunting for commercial trade is likely to be a major contributor to this decline,

Further noting that a wildlife sanctuary was previously established in the Arnarvon Islands group but now no longer exists,

Acknowledging that the Solomon Islands has recently undertaken turtle conservation activities (with the support of SPREP) including turtle population surveys, education, and the drafting of new legislation to control turtle exploitation,

The Steering Committee of the South Pacific Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Programme:

Expresses its support for the turtle conservation activities undertaken by the Solomon Islands and supports a continuation of these efforts,

Endorses re-establishment of the Arnarvon Wildlife Sanctuary with the full support of the traditional landowners and national and provincial authorities,

Urges that, as an urgent priority, international and regional conservation and development agencies assist the Solomon Islands to proceed with the establishment of the Arnarvon Wildlife Sanctuary as soon as possible.

RESOLUTION ON TURTLE CONSERVATION IN NEW CALEDONIA

Considering that New Caledonia and Dependencies is an important breeding ground for the following species of marine turtles:

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)

Also considering that statutory protection for marine turtles already exists in New Caledonia,

The Steering Committee of the South Pacific Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Programme:

Urges "Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Nature Néo-Calédonienne" (ASNNC) to persevere with its research programme and information campaign for the conservation of marine turtles,

Supports all action taken by ASNNC with the territorial authorities and the research bodies present in New Caledonia to combat poaching and secure the strict enforcement of statutory provisions relating to marine turtle conservation.

Editor's note: These five Resolutions (plus three recognizing Michael Guinea, Peter Thomas, and Alan Banner for their important contributions to sea turtle conservation in the South Pacific region) were distributed by Vili A. Fuavao, Director, South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) on 20 August 1991 to SPREP National Focal Points, SPREP Institutional Focal Points, and participants of the Second Meeting and Workshop of the RMTCP.