By Will Weissert
ASSOCIATED PRESS
1:40 p.m. June 21, 2004
MEXICO CITY ? Despite nearly two decades of conservation efforts, the world's biggest sea turtle species continues to disappear from Mexican waters
and is sliding toward extinction worldwide, federal officials said Monday.
The leatherback can grow 6-8 feet long and weigh between 1,200 and 1,500 pounds. In Mexico, an adult population of 115,000 in 1982 dwindled to between
20,000 and 30,000 by 1996, officials told reporters.
"If we don't do something, we could lose the species in a very short time," said Oscar Ramirez, director of field operations for the wildlife division
of the federal environmental prosecutor's office, Profepa.
Efforts to protect the leatherback have slowed its rate of disappearance, but the species likely won't begin recovering for at least 15 years, said
Luis Fueyo, Profepa's director of inspections.
Laws designed to protect sea turtles in Mexico were first approved in 1988 and were tightened last year. Those caught trafficking turtles now can face
up to nine years in prison.
During 139 sting operations in 2003, federal agents confiscated 231,975 turtle eggs and 101 products made using turtles and arrested 59 people.
Through April of this year, federal laws had been used to prosecute nine people, Fueyo said.
Federal agents now patrol 23 beaches and keep an eye on nearby highways, looking to nab smugglers of turtle goods, Fueyo said.
The sale of turtle eggs and meat to restaurants is common in nearly all of southern and western Mexico and the practice stretches as far inland as
Mexico City, according to Profepa.
In the north, the sale of shells, boots and other clothing made from turtle skin is popular, as is the illegal capture and sale of the reptiles as
pets, according to Profepa.
Conservation efforts include creation of 23 sea turtle sanctuaries as well as agreements with people in beachfront communities nationwide to police
for illegal sea turtle hunting, Fueyo said.
Mammoth nets used for commercial fishing ? especially aboard those vessels trolling Mexican waters for shrimp and sharks ? often inadvertently trap
turtles, further threatening their fragile populations.
New guidelines require fisherman to abstain from spreading nets in turtle-rich areas. Also, last month, Profepa signed an agreement with Mexico's
largest fishing organization to better protect turtles, Fueyo said. Dave - 6-22-2004 at 09:43 AM
I don't know how many PROFEPA agents are patrolling these beaches but from TJ to Ensenada there is 1 agent. And he, according to a friend, is a
"little bit crooked".
Nine years? Most murderers don't get that.
Apparently, the AP will write anything the Mexican government shovels its way.
Probably not a lot
jrbaja - 6-22-2004 at 10:19 AM
of actual agents from PROFEPA, but, all the beaches I frequent have military personel patroling regularly. And, they are well armed, extremely polite
and professional, and they are serious about what they are doing.
They are also looking for drugs being shipped across from the mainland heading to the u.s.market.
These guys are Mexican Marines. They have boats, planes, helicopters, and radios. They aren't the kids you see at the revisiones, they are well
trained, mature officers who believe in what they are doing.
They don't spend a lot of time between Rosarito and Ensenada because, well, why should they? I haven't seen any turtles in this area yet but down
south, they are on it bigtime!Dave - 6-22-2004 at 11:08 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by jrbaja
They are also looking for drugs being shipped across from the mainland heading to the u.s.market.
No, they are PRIMARILY looking for drugs. They occasionally stumble on to a turtle poaching. When was the last time they actively pursued illegal
fishing operations?
These guys ARE serious but their #1 priority is drugs. PROFEPA is charged with environmental enforcement and they are for sale to the highest bidder.
Don't know about that but
jrbaja - 6-22-2004 at 12:36 PM
Here's a funny story about them. Carol and I had a camp set up in our usual spot down on a remote beach. We had been drinking and playing this game
and she fell down and got a black eye. I marked out the whole scenario for when she woke up in the morning because I didn't want to get blamed. I
thought it was hysterical.
We left the next day to go shopping in La Paz and didn't get back until night. I was out getting some wood when the dogs started going off. It was
three of these guys and they had been checking our camp all day.
I showed them my papers and got to talking with them and they couldn't figure out if we had gone out in a boat and drowned, some smugglers or who
knows what. I guess most people don't just go off and leave their stuff.
Anyways, when they saw these strange markings in the dirt, they figured it was a code so they hung around to get to the bottom of it.
We ended up spending the evening together and some tacos and cervezas and they asked us to please leave a note next time we take off.
Talking to them, they were explaining that they were a fairly new division of military and they were looking for #1. smugglers of drugs. #2.
Poachers of any sort. #3. Destroyers of Flaura and Fauna and anyone hurting the environment.
Although it is against the law to catch lobsters and various other sea creatures by foreigners, as long as you are only getting enough to eat for
yourselves, they probably won't say anything. Commercial operations or anything to do with an endangered species is SERIOUS BUSINESS!
These guys had the equipment and were highly educated. I don't think that they would be out there taking bribes. And I don't think they would arrest
their sisters, but I do think they are doing a lot of good whenever they can.
We will be seeing more of them. Dave - 6-22-2004 at 01:32 PM
Under Mexican law, it is illegal for longliners or gill-netters to fish commercially within 50 miles of the coast of the Sea of Cortes.
You would think this would be easy picking for the Marines considering the law encompasses virtually all of the sea so any commercial operator would
be easily spotted, no?
What is your guess as to how effectively Mexico enforces this law?
A flocking joke.
This is just one example of how Mexico is peeing away its future.
My comments about PROFEPA were not limited to its inaction regarding turtles. Puerto Nuevo dumps raw sewage into the sea and garbage on neighboring
properties. The PROFEPA agent has visited on numerous occasions. He always leaves with his pockets and belly full.
And your recommendation is?
jrbaja - 6-22-2004 at 03:14 PM
There is a lot more to Baja than this little americanized stretch of coastline that we have here Dave.
Granted, there is a major deficiency in police here, especially compared to the u.s. where most everyone is some sort of cop. Lovely way to live,
don't you agree?
Down here, where the people actually are free, there are going to be some cases of bribery and such, ( as if that isn't happening in the u.s.!),
especially around your area and Puerto Nuevo or anywhere else there are gringo dollars to be had.
Seems a little odd to me that someone with a business here ( Baja Norte) that is so in the know, would make comments on Baja Sur. It is a lot
different there than here Dave. You should check it out. And, they are becoming more aware of the dire need to make changes soon.
In my opinion, they are doing some real good in the southern regions and this is from dealing with them personally. And I have never personally seen
one "stuffed pocket", how bout you?
It's a long road to bring back what there once was. But if they're putting in 5000 homes in Loreto and all these other pathetic gringo, canadian,
developments, why bother, the pollution will kill everything anyway. Just like california and the u.s.coastline and the area you are complaining
about.
At least the Mexicans are trying rather than whining. The ones I know anyway.
Sea Turtle Conservation
Mike Humfreville - 6-22-2004 at 04:59 PM
An excerpt from our visit to watch the whales and an experience with a young lady trained to protect the sea turtles:
We climb out of the panga and enter the simple restaurant. Mary Ann and I share a plate of tasty scallops mojo de ajo. Suzanne is presented with a
plate of mixed things not meat. It?s quite tasty she tells us.
?MMMMmmm.? We respond, loving our seafood and garlic.
?How?s everything?? Rubi asks.
?Better than sea turtle.? I offer. Suzanne is squeamish. Mary Ann cringes.
Rubi launches into a very informative tutorial about her position in the scattered village. She is trained in conservation and protection of
endangered species here in Laguna San Ignacio. Her husband and brother-in-law also work to educate the locals on the concepts of preservation and
protection of those elements of our environment that are at risk. How cool, I?m thinking, that this far into the outback the word is getting out.
These three have integrated into the villagers and carried forward a mission to inform and introduce change into family traditions that have carried
on for perhaps centuries, to help local families understand how select habits can damage their futures, can have a negative influence. How far we
have progressed, I reflect, awestruck. It?s an easy deal to sell a city dweller on not eating some food they never thought about anyway. But to
convince a family that has made a living by capturing for generations some animal that has become endangered that it would serve the world better if
they gave up their pursuit? That?s a difficult challenge.
Rubi sparkles in her conversation, telling us the impact and cooperative influences she and her kind have had on the locals, how most folks now
recognize the need to protect the environment and the endangered. She excitedly cites incident after incident where the rural community is working
toward a common concurred objective. Mary Ann, Suzanne and I are touched with the moment. On the drive back to San Ignacio Rubi and her world
dominate our conversation, rattled somewhat by the nasty washboard surface.
That's spectacular Mike, these people care!
jrbaja - 6-22-2004 at 05:39 PM
One of my projects down south was working with PROFEPA and the local people towards some protection of the hill communities. Caves, animals, trees
and that kind of stuff.
One of the outcomes besides the communities being cleaned up is that now all the locals are involved and carrying PROFEPA Credentials, as well as
educational meetings sponsored by PROFEPA in the communities themselves.
This has been a highly successful program and the interest has been 100% from all parties. They realize the importance, and value of improving and
keeping the unique environment as it should be.
Of course, there are still going to be Venado BBQ"s in them thar hills, as I am sure that occasionally there will be turtle stew fiestas at the
beaches.
The important thing is, everyone is now aware of the consequences. They are teaching ALL their kids in school about preservation and the kids in
turn are teaching their parents.
What this means is that people aren't so likely to just turn their heads anymore. This is a HUGE step in the right direction.
And I love it !
