| A New Modus in Smuggling Turtles |
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In 1999 ProFauna proved that Bali is a center for turtle meat trade. At that time, 27,000 turtles were slaughtered every year to get the meat. Following ProFauna’s campaign to halt turtle trade in Bali in 2001, the police conducted mass-scale confiscation to stop turtle trade in Bali. The operation resulted in four turtle traders brought to court and sentenced to prison for a period of 6 months up to 1 year. Since then, turtle trade in Bali has decreased to 80%. Although turtle meat trade in Bali has significantly been reduced, it does not mean that turtle trade has stopped altogether. Smuggling of turtles into Bali is a frequently-sighted activity. Today, ProFauna estimates that there are around 1000-2000 Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) being smuggled every year to Bali. This is proven by the fact that in the last 3 years (2004-2006) there were 12 cases in which ship vessels carrying turtles into the island had been seized. In the year of 2006, the local Bali marine police managed to capture 2 vessels carrying turtles to Bali and 1 vessel was caught by the West Nusa Tenggara police. The seized vessels had been found to be carrying 7-200 Green turtles each. This is evidence that smuggling of turtles is still happening in Bali until today. Those turtles are of Banyuwangi, Madura, Sulawesi dan Flores seas origin. The relatively high demand for turtle meat in Bali has caused smugglers to take chances in breaking into the island despite strict law enforcement by the police. If previously the turtle traders smuggled live turtles, now they are more keen on smuggling turtle meat. Along the journey, those turtles are slaughtered in the middle of the sea, chopped in small pieces to disguise their cargo, and later make it hard for the officers to inspect and identify. To meet the needs for turtle meat in Bali, people often come to the seas in Merubetiri and Alas Purwo National Parks in East Java to obtain catch. The turtles are caught one by one through diving, no longer using nets like what was utilized in previous years. Turtle Trade in the Southern Java Beaches According to ProFauna records, roughly 1000 turtles are slaughtered each year to create stuffed turtles and sold along the shores of the Southern Java beaches. In addition, 60 turtles are accidentally caught in random fishermen’s nets every year. Those accidentally caught turtles are then slaughtered and consumed for their meat. Turtle trade in the shores of the Southern Java Beaches occurs particularly at the following locations: Teluk Penyu Beach, Cilacap, Central Java; Puger Banyuwangi Beach; pangandaran Beach, West Java; Pelabuhan Ratu Beach, West Java; and Pangumbahan Beach, Sukabumi, West Java. Current progress to curb turtle trade can be seen through the fact that the number of turtle material-derived merchandise have decreased to as low as 90% following ProFauna’s publication of the organization’s investigation report on turtle trade in Cilacap in 2005. Now ‘turtle stock’ that had once been in Cilacap has been moved to Pangandaran Beach in West Java. The trade of turtles and its parts in the Southern Java beaches is now hard to find due to the impacts of the tsunami several months ago which hit the shores of Southern Java quite hard. Trade of Merchandise Sourced from Hawksbill Turtle Shells Positive developments have taken place in Kota Gede, Yogyakarta. Kota Gede, once renowned as the center for souvenirs made from Hawksbill turtle shells (Eretmochelys imbricata), by the end of 2006 has managed to decrease the trade by 90%. After receiving reports from ProFauna, officials from the Conservancy of Natural Resource Council (BKSDA_Yogyakarta) carried out socialization and law enforcement efforts at Kota Gede. The results was a rapid decline in sales for merchandise of Hawksbill turtle shells, the area nearly proclaimed to be free of illegal products. It is a shame that the positive results achieved in Kota Gede was not followed by the same developments of Hawksbill turtle souvenir trade in Malioboro Road, Yogyakarta. Although the number has declined, trade of souvenirs made from Hawksbill turtle shells still takes place in several outlets along Malioboro Road. At the end of 2006, ProFauna recorded that there were 500 souvenirs made from Hawksbill turtle shells. Turtle Egg Trade in Sukabumi, West Java Although turtle egg trade is regulated and protected nationally, it is still legalized by a few regional governments, such as what is happening in Pangumbahan Beach, Sukabumi, West Java. Previously in 2001, the Sukabumi local government released Regional Law (Perda) No. 2/ 2001 regulating turtle egg trade conducted by private businesses. Luckily, the law was cancelled by Domestic Affairs Minister the following year through Domestic Affairs Minister Decree no. 9/ 2005 on Cancellation of Perda No. 2 year 2001. Agreement on the legislation of the decree was achieved due to the hardwork done by the Animal Advocacy Institute (LASA) supported by ProFauna Indonesia. At the moment, Sukabumi police is handling a law case regarding turtle egg trade. Although proceeding very slowly, ProFauna is hoping that this case will be handed over to court and more law will be enforced strictly in the hope that turtle egg trade will not occur again in Sukabumi. According to ProFauna’s turtle campaign coordinator, I Wayan Wiradnyana, “All species of turtles are protected by Indonesian law, so there should not be any excuses to take commercial advantage of these creatures; law enforcers shuld be more strict in making sure there is safe haven and protection for the turtles” Wayan also mentioned that the goals of the turtle conservation program in Indonesia will only be achieved if we are able to include local community participation, and if there exists strict law enforcement to those who are found guilty trading turtles illegally. Heavy sanctions to those who ignore the law and appreciating the positive efforts made by those who have tried to conserve will help the 6 turtle species in Indonesia stay alive. For more Informations: http://www.profauna.or.id/ |
Year 2006 was “the Year of Turtles” proclaimed by IOSEA (Indian Ocean and South East Asia) Secretariat and signed in agreement by the Indonesian government. Indonesia with its shoreline and vast seas possess 6 out of 7 of the world’s turtles speces. All turtle and parts of turtles are protected under statutory law in Indonesia. According to Act. No. 5/ 1990 on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation, conduct of protected wildlife trade, including turtles, are subject to a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a fine up to Rp100 million. | < Prev | Next > |
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