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

St. Kitts and Nevis Sea Turtles…
region are suggesting a ten-year moratorium on sea turtles ... Even without the harvesting of sea
turtles and sea turtle eggs, the species will have a hard time surviving. Encroaching civilization
-- populated beaches, lighted beaches, the loss of sea grass and mangrove swamps as a result of
clearing, garbage dumping, and siltation from land clearing -- makes it hard for sea turtles to
survive ... Fishermen only harvest what they can sell, and when everyone refuses to buy sea
turtles, the fishermen will quit taking them. Repeated refusals from prospective buyers will get
the message across." As a direct consequence of this campaign, several local restaurants have
agreed to remove sea turtle meals from their menus.
Similarly, the SCHS Marine Division focuses on issues directly affecting sea turtles and
other marine resources. Heritage regularly features informative articles on the status and
conservation of the coastal zone, including sea grasses, coral reefs and sandy beaches so
important to the survival of sea turtles. The Marine Division has been an active participant in the
development of this Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan, soliciting input from a broad cross-section
of the community, including persons representing fishermen, SCUBA divers, restaurant owners
and hoteliers, coastal developers, Fisheries personnel and educators, and hosting "Town
Meetings" to discuss the document. The SCHS has offered to distribute sea turtle awareness
materials, plans to develop a sea turtle display at the SCHS office, initiated a survey of nesting
activity on several known nesting beaches during the summer of 1992, and has an active
campaign to discourage people from driving on nesting beaches (see section 4.134). An
informative video en-titled "Underwater St. Kitts and Nevis" has been produced as part of the
SCHS Marine Environment Education Programme. A variety of other educational materials are
in the planning stages and some are being developed in cooperation with WIDECAST.
There is widespread support for a "Sea Turtle Awareness Week" in St. Kitts/Nevis. A
coordinated, national effort would ensure that all residents were exposed to the message of sea
turtle (and coastal) conservation. In 1991, the NHCS and WIDECAST submitted a proposal to
the local office of Shell Antilles and Guianas, Ltd., for a small grant to facilitate the effort. The
objectives were (1) to promote an awareness within the general public of the plight of sea turtles,
nationally and regionally, (2) to provide the community with the latest scientific information on
the biology of sea turtles and how to conserve them, (3) to encourage media involvement in the
issues, (4) to sponsor hands-on workshops on sea turtle population monitoring and conservation,
(5) to enhance local ability to make informed decisions regarding such issues as coastal
development, sea turtle conservation, and law enforcement, and (6) to strengthen the
effectiveness of local initiatives, such as the Ecosystem of Nevis Project and various projects of
the SCHS Marine Division. Shell subsequently turned down the proposal, but an Awareness
Week (including seminars, media events, workshops, and the distribution of educational
materials) is a priority for the NGO community and support will be sought elsewhere.
It is a recommendation of this Recovery Action Plan that the WIDECAST project, in
continuing cooperation with local conservation groups and government agencies, develop a
variety of educational materials suitable for wide public distribution. These should include
colourful, scientifically accurate, conservation-oriented materials that can be integrated into
primary and secondary school curricula, adult education classes, fisheries extension programmes,
coastal development seminars, general environmental education campaigns, print and electronic
media programmes, and public displays (e.g., airports).
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