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

St. Kitts and Nevis Sea Turtles…In light of the decline of nesting turtles on the beaches of St. Kitts and Nevis (section 3.3)and in recognition that turtles are declining throughout the Wider Caribbean region, it is arecommendation of this Recovery Action Plan that the Government of St. Kitts and Nevisimplement the OECS harmonized legislation, which calls for a moratorium on the harvest of seaturtles and their eggs throughout the region. Sea turtles are a shared resource in the Caribbeanbasin, meaning that all countries must work together to achieve conservation goals. Furtherdiscussion of this recommendation, as well as a presentation of options and alternatives, isprovided in section 4.23. In addition to inadequate fisheries legislation, there are no protectedareas established for the benefit of sea turtles, conservation law enforcement could be greatlyimproved, and international treaties designed to protect endangered species in the Wider Caribbean,such as CITES and the Cartagena Convention (see section 4.3), have not been ratified.With regard to regulatory mechanisms in general, the National Conservation andEnvironment Protection Act (NCEPA) of 1987 is relevant to nesting beach conservation andprotected area designation. The Act provides for the establishment and administration ofnational parks, historic and archaeological sites, and other areas of natural or cultural interest.The Act allows for the establishment of a Conservation Commission to advise the Minister onthe selection of protected areas, among other things, and declares that the "ConservationCommission shall promote conservation as part of long term national economic development".A variety of activities are regulated under this legislation, including sand mining and the removalof beach vegetation. Anchoring, polluting, collecting or harassing wildlife, and fishing can berestricted in protected areas. Animals (including wild birds and their eggs) listed in the ThirdSchedule of the Act are nationally protected; unfortunately, no sea turtles are listed. The Actalso provides for the appointment of wildlife or park officers. The Act needs to be fullyimplemented and all species of sea turtle should be included in the Third Schedule.The Southeast Peninsula Land Development and Conservation Act of 1986 describes thepower and functions of the Southeast Peninsula Land Development and Conservation Board toinclude maintaining the environmental quality of the Southeast Peninsula. The Board is chargedwith making recommendations concerning zoning, pollution control, and the development andimplementation of an environmental protection plan; carrying out planning studies; andmonitoring development schemes. By the power vested in them by the Act, the Board hasprepared both a Southeast Peninsula Land Use Management Plan and comprehensiveDevelopment Guidelines (Ministry of Development, 1989a,b). These include coast conservationmeasures. Further, the Act designates the Southeast Peninsula as a "conservation area", whereina permit from the Minister is needed to willfully kill, wound or take any wild animal or wildbird. The reference to "any wild animal" would logically include any marine turtle nesting on apeninsula beach. Nevertheless, the Act has never been so applied. The Act needs to be fullyimplemented in all respects, including the protection of depleted species.The following recommendations were made to Government at the Follow-up Conferenceto the Country Environmental Profile of St. Kitts and Nevis (SCHS, 1991) and are endorsed bythis Recovery Action Plan.(1) Coastal and Marine Resources Group –* Raise public awareness of and concern for the importance of marine life,Page 23