Threatened with a
crushing blow to its us $2 billion shrimp industry,
Thailand is making belated
efforts to save sea turtles
which are fast disappearing
from its waters. The Phuket
Marine Biology Centre
recently released 200 baby
sea turtles into the Andaman
Sea, though experts believe
they would not survive there
for long. The move comes in
the wake of proposed us
sanctions on Thai shrimp
exports from May 1, 1996 .
The us legislation bans
shrimp imports from countries which fail to show that
their shrimps were caught by
trawlers using turtle-friendly
devices.
Thailand's fishery act
of 1940 had banned the
hunting of sea turtles, but
the population graph of
turtles in the country has
been on the descendant
in recent years. All four
species of turtles found
in Thai waters - the
Leatherback, Green, Hawks-
bill and Olive Ridley - are
endangered. Marine biologists have blamed the situation on the construction of
hotels on beaches where
the turtles used to lay their
eggs.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.