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Laws

The Loggerhead is a very important species both ecologically and economically and since we have caused their decline, it is up to us to protect them. Lucky for the Loggerhead, there are laws in place all around the world to do just that.

 

Recovery Plan

     First and foremost, when it is determined that an animal is endangered and it is added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Fish and Wildlife Service must draft a recovery plan. To see the Loggerhead’s click here.

The Endangered Species Act

     The ESA of 1973 was signed into effect to protect all species that are endangered or threatened in all or even a small portion of their range. In accordance with the ESA, once a species is found to be either threatened or endangered, it is not only listed as so, but efforts are made to protect it and a recovery plan is drawn up. Once listed, the creature is given protection by the federal government from being taken, traded or sold (Endangered Species Act, 2015). The Loggerhead is protected under the ESA as one of its 42 foreign or international species, and as smuggling is a huge problem for this adorable turtle, the ESA has great potential for protecting him (Endangered Species Act, 2015). However, as the Loggerhead is an internationally spread species, the ESA can do little to effectively care for it.

 

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna

 

     CITES is an international treaty between 181 governments implemented by the UN Environment Program. Its mission is to ensure that the international trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival and it does this by prohibiting the trade of endangered species such as our friend the Loggerhead. Specific protections for the Loggerhead and other endangered species can be found in Appendix I (What is CITES). The Loggerhead, along with many of its turtle relatives are incredibly susceptible to poaching and illegal trade for their eggs, shells, flippers, and meat. In fact over a two-week-long U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sting operation at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in 2011 12 people who illegally smuggled sea turtle meat and eggs into the United States aboard international flights from Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador were netted. The investigation resulted in the confiscation of 764 eggs and about 75 pounds of sea turtle meat (STC, 2015).  CITES works to help protect the turtles from this cruel reality. Click here to learn more about the Loggerheads plight with poaching.  

 

The Convention on Migratory Species

 

     CMS is an environmental treaty implemented by the United Nations Environment Program whose mission is to provide a “global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats” (An Introduction to CMS, 2015).  By connecting the places through which migratory animals pass, they set the legal groundwork for international conservation efforts throughout migratory range (An Introduction to CMS, 2015). The Loggerhead is listed specifically in Appendices I and II of CMS, and are protected under the following sections of CMS:

  • IOSEA: Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia (Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta), NOAA, 2014)

This is a section of CMS specifically delegated to the turtles. It  aims to protect, conserve, replenish and recover marine turtles and their habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asian region, working in partnership with other relevant actors and organizations (Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta), NOAA, 2014).

  • Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Conservation Measures for Marine Turtles of the Atlantic Coast of Africa (Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta), NOAA, 2014)

This section of CMS is the same as the last, however working to protect and restore turtles found on the Atlantic coast of the African continent.

 

Crazy Fact! 

One arrest during the operation was of a Costa Rican citizen, Franklin Delano Reid, who was found to have stashed in his luggage eight sea turtle flippers, 490 sea turtle eggs, and about 30 pounds of smoked sea turtle meat alone (STC, 2015).

The Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife Protocol of the Cartagena Convention

 

     The United Nations Environment Program and the Caribbean Environment Program protect the Loggerhead under Annex II of SPAW (Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta), NOAA, 2014). The protocol creates a legal commitment for the 25 countries and states to “manage their common coastal and marine resources individually, jointly, and in a sustainable way” (SPAW, 2014).  SPAW came into being in 2000 to "Take the necessary measures to protect, preserve and manage in a sustainable way:

  1. Areas that require protection to safeguard their special value, and

  2. Threatened or endangered species of flora and fauna." (SPAW, 2014)

The Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles

 

     The U.S. is a party of the IAC , which is the only international treaty to date, that has been dedicated exclusively to the protection and conservation of marine turtles (Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta), NOAA, 2014). The Convention is a binding agreement to implement measures that will reduce threats to sea turtles including things like prohibition of deliberate taking of sea turtles or their eggs, use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in trawl vessels, and designation of protected areas for critical turtle habitat (Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta), NOAA, 2014).

 

     However, not all of these have been especially effective. Loggerheads along with virtually all-international marine turtles are still critically endangered species. This is in part because the laws are incredibly hard to enforce on an international scale, but also because the laws are not as strict as they need to be to successfully protect these incredible creatures.

 

The World Wildlife Fund

     WWF is only one of many hardworking organizations engaged in protecting the turtles. Thus far they have done dozens of things that include…

  • Working around the world to establish marine protected areas (MPA’s) to ensure sea turtles have a safe place to nest, feed and migrate freely (Loggerhead Turtle, WWF)

  • Working with fisheries to switch to more turtle-friendly fishing hooks (“circle” hooks) and advocates for the use of devices that exclude turtles from nets (Loggerhead Turtle, WWF)

  • Supporting the monitoring and patrolling of turtle nests in many parts of the world and helps equip local turtle conservationists (Loggerhead Turtle, WWF)

  • Encouraging governments to strengthen legislation and provide funding for sea turtle protection (Loggerhead Turtle, WWF)

Click here to learn more about WWF 

 

Sea Turtle Conservancy

     STC is one of the world's most well renowned and oldest organizations working to save the turtles. The non-profit is based in Gainesville Florida and was started in 1959 by Mr. Joshua B. Powers who, after reading Dr. Archie Carr's award-winning book “The Windward Road,” was inspired to help. Powers plan to save the sea turtles through rigorous science based conservation is what has made STC so successful. The company focuses on “recovering sea turtle populations through research, education, advocacy and protection of the natural habitats upon which they depend upon” (STC, 2015). Research done by the STC provides us with much of what we know today about Sea Turtles and the threats they face (STC, 2015).

Click here to learn more about STC

 

Turtle Island Restoration Network

     Working to protect not only the turtles but also marine species like the Coho Salmon and the Whale Sharks, Turtle Island works to preserve through science and catalyzing people who care. Their mission statement is as follows:

“Our mission is to mobilize people in local communities around the world to protect marine wildlife and the oceans and inland watersheds that sustain them. Our work is buoyed by thousands of supporters, volunteers and pro bono professionals, who help us extend our network around the globe” (What We Do, 2014)

Click here to learn more about Turtle Island Restoration Network

 

Sea Turtle Inc.

     Sea Turtle Inc. is based in South Padre Island, Texas and works hands on with turtles to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured sea turtles back into the wild. Founded in 1977 by Ila Fox Loetscher, better known as the Turtle Lady of South Padre Island, the nonprofit has since expanded their mission to include educational programs, hands on rehabilitation work, and a vision for conservation (Sea Turtle Inc., 2015).

Click here to learn more about Sea Turtle Inc. 

 

Organizations

Luckily, it is not only government agencies working to help save the Loggerhead! There are many independent organizations, companies, and groups doing things great to help protect him as well. Below are just a few. 

 

NGO's
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