POACHING OF EGGS, MEAT FROM ENDANGERED TURTLES REMAINS MAJOR PROBLEM IN MEXICO.

Mexican environmental authorities are fighting an uphill battle in their efforts to protect endangered marine turtles that inhabit coastal regions on both the Pacific Coast and the Gulf of Mexico.

The seven species of endangered marine turtles found in Mexico--lora, laud, golfina, caguama,

A report published by the Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT) said marine turtles are at risk because of indiscriminate poaching of eggs and the slaughter of hundreds of turtles for their meat and hides. The hide is used to manufacture exotic belts, boots, and purses.

SEMARNAT has attempted to protect the turtles by setting aside special habitats, creating 27 special turtle-protection camps, and imposing stiff fines of up to 2.18 million pesos (US$195,000) for illegal trafficking of turtle eggs, meat, and products manufactured with turtle hides.

Francisco Giner, SEMARNAT's deputy secretary for environmental protection, said President Vicente Fox's administration is expanding the federal turtle-protection program (Programa Nacional para la Proteccion, Conservacion y Manejo de Tortugas Marinas) this year to increase the protected habitat and crack down further on illegal sales of turtle products. Authorities are especially vigilant during those periods when sea turtles emerge from the sea, crawl up the beach, and lay their eggs--a point at which they are extremely vulnerable.

The Fox government has also made some efforts to curb development of tourist resorts proposed for areas that have traditionally been turtle habitats. In 2001, the Fox government withdrew a permit for construction of five hotels near two beaches in Quintana Roo state where loggerhead and green sea turtles were known to breed (see SourceMex, 2001-01-23 and 2001-08-22).

Giner said SEMARNAT has intensified efforts to discourage trafficking of turtle products during the past several years by monitoring public markets and other sites where these items are sold. The agency confiscated about 231,000 turtle eggs in 2003.

A major challenge for environmental authorities, however, is to educate the public about the endangered status of turtles. Consumption of turtle eggs and meat remains high, which has encouraged poaching.