Date: October 3, 2008
Contact: David Godfry
Phone: (352) 373-6441
Action deadline: October 15, 2008
How You Can Help
Dear STC Activist,
We need your help to show the government of The Bahamas that the proposed regulations to protect sea turtles from commerical harvest and sale by the end of 2008 and to provide full protection to all sea turtles by April, 2009, should both be approved!
For the past few years, STC and a handful of groups working in The Bahamas has been urging Bahamian leaders to revise their arcane laws regarding sea turtle harvesting. Despite declining numbers of several species being targeted, particularly loggerheads, hawksbills and leatherbacks, there still has been an open season on sea turtles there. The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources recently announced proposed regulations that will protect all sea turtles. The first proposed regulation would protect all sea turtles from commercial harvest, purchase, or sale as of December 31, 2008. The second proposed regulation would give all sea turtles full protection as of April 1, 2009. These proposed regulations are now open for public comment. While the proposal of protection from commercial harvest is almost certain, the proposal for full protection as of April 1, 2009, because of the cultural traditions of subsistence living in The Bahamas, is not as certain.
TAKE ACTION: Urge The Bahamas to approve both proposed regulations to protect sea turtles.
* Write to The Director of the Department of Marine Resources. If you have visited or plan to visit The Bahamas, you should include that information.
You can provide comments by:
1) sending a letter to The Director of Department of Marine Resources at the address below:
email The Director the letter below right now
* Please forward this alert to your friends and colleagues.
Your help really makes a difference! Thank you!
SAMPLE MESSAGE TEXT
The Director
Department of Marine Resources
Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources
P. O. Box N-3028
Nassau, N. P., Bahamas
Dear Director,
These proposed regulations protecting sea turtles from commercial harvest by the end of 2008 and giving sea turtles full protection as of April 1, 2009 should be approved.
Sincerely,
Your name and address
Sea Turtle Conservancy
