Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan for St. Kitts and Nevis - WIDECAST

CEP Technical Report No. 17
for the clean up of the litter deposited or pollution caused". There is no system for the collection
and proper disposal of waste oil in either St. Kitts or Nevis. Much of the reported pollution at
the electricity plant in St. Kitts is from waste lubricating oils resulting in oil-saturated soil and
ditches. Oil entering drainage ditches combines with pollutants from other sources and is
ultimately discharged into Basseterre Bay. In addition, waste oil and grease from garages are
dumped into storm drains and on the ground. This material combines with oil from street surface
runoff and is washed into drains, ghauts, and coastal waters during heavy rains. Similarly, waste
oil from garages and electricity generating plants in Nevis is disposed of in storm drains or
poured directly on the ground where it eventually washes into ghauts and coastal marine waters
(CCA, 1991). Uncounted small businesses also contribute to the problem. For example,
Warner's dry cleaning and deli facility (Charlestown) which routes detergent waste water and dry
cleaning solvent into the street, where it flows ultimately to the sea.
A recent marine habitat survey of Nevis noted deterioration of the reef structure around
the Charlestown Harbour at Fort Charles. Robinson (1991) speculated that this may have been
caused by oil seeping into Gallows Bay after having been discharged from a nearby power plant
into Bath Bog, by heightened shipping activity and run-off from Charlestown streets which is
causing considerable amounts of pollution in the bay, and/or by the activity of Hurricane Hugo.
The report also noted, "The pollutants are much more varied than previously known due to
newly introduced building materials, cement, oil and gasoline spillage, and soap drain-off from a
local laundromat." It is not clear at the present time exactly what the cumulative effect of
land-based industrial pollution has been on sea turtles in St. Kitts/Nevis. However, it is possible
that damage done to coral reefs and other foraging zones, not to mention debilitating or even
lethal chemical input, will only accelerate the decline of the already depleted sea turtle fauna.
It is a recommendation of this Recovery Action Plan that investment in infrastructure to
treat and properly dispose of industrial wastes be a priority for both Government and industry.
Routine monitoring for compliance with environmental standards should be implemented.
4.144 At-sea dumping of garbage
The dumping of garbage at sea is recognized as a growing problem throughout the world.
Death to marine organisms as a result of ingestion or entanglement is widespread (e.g., O'Hara et
al., 1986; Laist, 1987; CEE, 1987). Balazs (1985) summarized worldwide records of ingestion
of oceanic debris by marine turtles and listed a wide variety of items consumed, including
banana bags ingested by green turtles in Costa Rica. Several years ago, Mrosovsky (1981) summarized
data showing that 44% of adult non-breeding leatherbacks had plastic in their stomachs.
Leatherbacks consume plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish. Some sea turtles have been
found on the SEP entangled in discarded netting and other fishing gear. The Atlantic beaches are
particularly vulnerable to the accumulation of debris, including cruise ship waste and oil. Sea
turtles and their eggs can easily be harmed by encounters with tar, glass, and netting on the
nesting beaches.
In St. Kitts/Nevis, as elsewhere, at-sea dumping is difficult to monitor. Addressing the
problem requires a concentrated effort at public education, coupled with stiff penalties for
offenders. It is a recommendation of this Recovery Action Plan that an awareness effort be initi-
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