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

St. Kitts and Nevis Sea Turtles…
In 1948, a Turtle Ordinance (Cap 99) came into force that protected sea turtles and their
eggs between 1 June and 30 September. The Ordinance also protected young turtles less than 20
lb (9 kg) at all times. Because the closed season did not encompass the full breeding season
(peak: April-November) and enforcement was inadequate, the Ordinance was insufficient to
provide for the long-term conservation of these species. This fact is clearly reflected in the
current depleted state of local populations [N.B. it is now well known that the persistent harvest
of large juveniles and breeding-age adults virtually assures population collapse; see section
4.23]. The Turtle Ordinance was repealed by the Fisheries Act of 1992, but since there is no
specific provision for sea turtle conservation (size limits, seasons) in the new Fisheries Act, the
nation now stands without any sea turtle legislation whatsoever. This situation will continue
until new Fisheries Regulations are adopted. The draft Fisheries Regulations of 1992 include a
moratorium on the harvest of sea turtles and their eggs at all times, and this stance is fully
supported by this Recovery Action Plan. If a period of harvest is inevitable prior to the
Regulations coming into force, then interim regulations declaring a maximum size limit and a
closed season from 1 April to 30 November are recommended (see section 4.23).
In addition to historical and present-day deficiencies in national legislation, there are
other threats to the survival of sea turtles that need to be considered and addressed. At the
present time, sea turtles in St. Kitts and Nevis are jeopardized by three main factors: (1) the
harvest of turtles and eggs, (2) the destruction of nesting and foraging habitats as a result of a
rising human population, pollution, and increasing development and use, and (3) an
under-staffed and insufficiently equipped Fisheries Division. A shortage of funding and material
supplies (including a boat) hinders the Fisheries Division from carrying out a number of
important activities, including implementing comprehensive surveys of turtle populations,
purchasing measuring tools, tags, tagging equipment, and other basic research supplies,
conducting regular extension and community outreach programmes, and monitoring compliance
with fisheries and conservation legislation. Conservation efforts are also hindered, to varying
degrees, by the following:
1. The coastlines of the St. Kitts and Nevis include about 30 km of sandy beaches. It is
impossible with present resources to carry out regular and comprehensive patrols of all beaches
throughout the year, or even during the eight months (April-November) when sea turtles would
be most likely to nest. Lacking sufficient staff and transportation, neither the Fisheries Division
nor the non-government conservation community has been able to systematically collect even the
most basic information (e.g., how many nests are laid each year).
2. The marine areas of St. Kitts and Nevis (especially St. Kitts, with the exception of the
Southeast Peninsula) have not been thoroughly surveyed or mapped with regard to the
distribution or health of sea grass and coral reefs. These ecosystems provide the majority of food
items for sea turtles resident or itinerant in local waters. Similarly, patterns of usage have not
been studied. The areas most frequented by turtles are known only in a very general way. Thus,
it has not been possible to determine which areas would serve most effectively as special
conservation sites, or reserves, for sea turtles.
3. Due to the infrequency of beach and at-sea surveys and the complete absence of field
conservation efforts aimed at apprehending sea turtle poachers, poachers have been able to kill
turtles under-sized and/or out of season (when there was a season) and dig nests without being
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