UNEXPLAINED TURTLE DEATHS RAISE POSSIBILITY OF ILLEGAL FISHING ALONG SALVADORAN COAST

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000089 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EFIS SENV ES SUBJECT: UNEXPLAINED TURTLE DEATHS RAISE POSSIBILITY OF ILLEGAL FISHING ALONG SALVADORAN COAST ¶1. SUMMARY: On January 5 and 6, 2006 the Environmental Division of the national police found 37 turtles and 1 dolphin dead on the country's beaches in the eastern part of El Salvador. An additional 25 dead turtles were subsequently discovered in a nearby bay. According to the Environment Ministry (MARN),possible causes of death include the illegal use of dragnets for shrimp without using Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs). The National Fishery Authority (CENDEPESCA) is now in charge of the investigation and says it is too early to confirm the cause of death. END SUMMARY. ¶2. On January 5, 31 turtles and 1 small dolphin were found dead on the beach at El Icacal, in El Salvador's easternmost Department of La Union. On January 6, an additional 6 turtles were found on the beach at El Cuco in the adjacent Department of San Miguel. According to Ernesto Lopez, Director of Natural Heritage at the Environment Ministry (MARN),a possible cause of death is illegal fishing for shrimp using nets not equipped with turtle excluder devices (TEDs). Lopez reached this conclusion after viewing dead turtles, which showed injuries to their fins, possibly resulting from attempts to escape the nets. No autopsy was conducted to determine other possible causes of death due to the advanced state of decomposition of the remains. The dead turtles belong to the three most common species in El Salvador, Hawksbill Turtles (Imbricata Eretmochelys),Olive Ridley Turtles (Olivacea Lepidochelys) and Black Turtles (Chelonia Agassizii). ¶3. According to Sonia Salaverria, Fisheries Director for the National Fishery Authority (CENDEPESCA),which is handling the official investigation into the incidents, it is too early to determine the exact cause of death of the turtles since no autopsy was conducted. Biologists from CENDEPESCA will continue with the investigation to determine what happened to the turtles. An additional 25 dead turtles have been reported on an island in the Department of Usulutan's Bay of Jiquilisco. CENDEPESCA has sent investigators and hopes to collect specimens and conduct an adequate autopsy to pinpoint the cause of death. Salaverria said other possible causes of death could be artesanal fishing by local residents in the area, or some form of food poisoning. CENDEPESCA and the Salvadoran Navy have conducted spot inspections of commercial shrimp and tuna boats but have not found any to be operating illegally. ¶4. Comment: To date an exact cause of death has not been determined due to the decomposition of the remains, but the Salvadorans are taking this issue seriously. If they find any recently deceased turtles an autopsy should be able to explain how the turtles died. Due to the number of turtles involved it would appear the deaths are a result of illegal commercial fishing rather than by individuals. The U.S. last certified Salvadoran shrimp fishing practices as complying with U.S. law regarding TEDs in May 2005, although fishing activity off El Salvador may have since intensified, in particular in connection with the establishment of a Grupo Calvo tuna packing plant in La Union. The spot inspections will probably not turn up any boats fishing without TEDs as the deaths have been widely publicized and captains are unlikely to risk being caught fishing illegally. If it is determined is made that illegal fishing caused the deaths, it will be difficult to find who is responsible, be they Salvadoran or from another country's fishing fleet, unless they are caught in the act of fishing without TEDs. End Comment. Barclay