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¡Say no to tortoiseshell! 
Campaign against tortoiseshell
trade
Español
The sale of tortoiseshell (carey) items in the
Dominican Republic is contributing to their extinction. Grupo Jaragua,
with support from Humane Society
International,
in coordination with the Ministry of the Environment (Secretaría de Estado de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales)
and other institutions is implementing a campaign to educate Dominican society
and international visitors about this problem.
Learn about this problem
(If
you click on top of the photos you can view them at a higher resolution.
Then press your browser's "back" button to return to this page)
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Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).
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In the coastal zone of our
island inhabits the hawksbill sea turtle (carey in Spanish), one of the
seven sea turtle species in the world. Generally, it is found near
coral reef areas. It characterized by its bird-like beak, and the
beautiful brown and yellow pattern on its shell.
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In our shore there are feeding as well as
nesting sites for hawksbills. Mature females come up to
sandy beaches to lay their eggs. When the eggs hatch, they go back
to the water.
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•...Hawksbills
used to be relatively common until not very long ago in our coastal
areas. However, overharvesting of these turtles on the beach
and in the water for their meat, eggs and shell have almost made it
dissapear from many sites. Also, often times they are trapped
(accidentally)in fishing nets set on their habitats.
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© S. Aucoin 2005
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Likewise, in the rest of the world, their
status is critical. Because of this, their sale is prohibited by the
CITES
Convention, which regulates the international trade of flora and fauna.
In addition, it has been listed as a critically endangered (CR) species
under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List (IUCN).
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Due to their critical status, their
capture and use is prohibited under Dominican Law (Fisheries Law
(#307-04, art. 46).
But tthe law is not enforced and the sale of their eggs, meat and
shell continue.
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©
A. Reuter 2006
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Track (followed
by satellite) of a hawksbill turtle that nested in Bonnaire ("Nautila")
and returned to its nesting area in northern Dominican Rep. in 2003.
Courtesy of Cortesía de R.van Dam/ Sea Turtle Conservation
Bonnaire..
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The sale of tortoiseshell affects
not just hawksbills in the Dominican Republic, but in all the
Caribbean. Scientific studies have shown that these turtles
make important migrations (at times greater than one thousand
kilometers) from their natal beach to their feeding areas.
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Despite this, the amount of
tortoiseshell offered in Santo Domingo continues to increase. It
is openly offered to the public in many shops and it is even advertised
in signs and presentation cards. In Santo Domingo you just have to
walk around the gift shops of Mercado Modelo or the Colonial City area.
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Tortoiseshell items are especially sold in the tourist souvenir shops (locally
known as gift shops) of Santo Dominco and the main tourist
destinations in the country. Government authorities and most of the
public watches this with indifference.
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If this trade continues, Caribbean
hawksbills might disappear. If you want to help save them from
extinction, as well as preserve their role in the coral reef ecosystem,
help us. Here is what you can do:
As a consumer: 1)
Do no buy any item made from tortoiseshell, nor hawksbill meat or eggs.
2) Boicott stores that sell tortoiseshell. 3) Report to us stores
and that sell carey. We have compiled a preliminary list to the
Ministry of the Environment, we are hoping they act upon it. 4) Spread
the word. Help us take this message to as many people as possible,
explaining them how this trade affects a critically endangered species.
As a seller:
1) Do not sell tortoiseshell.
It is a shameful trade that violates national and international laws.
Also, the items might be confiscated by foreign autorities as
clients bring them to other countries. 2) Provide us with information
about this craft, artisans and middle persons. We would like to
learn more about this trade so we can better address this problem.
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Educational materials
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Download the campaign flyer/ad (right clic over the image) and help us
spread the word! Place it in a visible place at your university, school
or workplace... send it over email. |
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Download here the campaign logo. Excelent for stickers, pins or t-shirts... |
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Download a Powerpoint presentation (.ppt) based on this page. |
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Download a hawksbill "infography" (in Spanish)
done by Ana María Lora of "El
Universal" newspaper from Venezuela.
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Link to Proyecto Carey's homepage |
This campaign has been possible thanks to:
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Universidad
de Valencia, España |
Last updated:
16 Jul 2008
Questions, comments about this
page? write to Yolanda León
and/or
Laura Perdomo
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