All seven species of migratory sea turtles are on the endangered list (Appendix 1) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The Cook Islands is not party to this international agreement, nor is it a member of The World Conservation Union (IUCN) an organisation made up of 1400 civil society organisations and 170 (4%) governments whose members drafted the CITES, as a result of a resolution in 1963. CITES essentially prohibits the international commercial trade of sea turtles but sea turtles are still harvested in many countries, including the Cook Islands.

In January this year, CINEWS published a TIS article that explained, “For some islands like Palmerston, Pukapuka and Penrhyn, Hawksbills hold traditional significance. Their eggs and meat are traditionally harvested, but not as frequently as they were in the past. Pukapuka, for instance, has implemented strict management rules limiting the annual harvest, and some islands refrain from taking females altogether. This balance between traditional customs and sustainability…….”

Other reports suggest, it is a generational shift where younger people no longer consume turtle meat or eggs. Perhaps this is because of a preference for, and being able to afford introduced processed foods, or is it a greater awareness of the global vulnerability of sea turtles?

The Cook Islands Marine Resources Act (2005) provides the Fisheries Minister with the opportunity to declare as endangered any fish which is designated as endangered by international agreement (Part III art 31)… and while that hasn’t happened where sea turtles are concerned, the inclusion of this provision and other marine related legislation does show that the Cook Islands is committed to CITES, as a non-party. The Marine Resources Act allows for the development of regulations that can set out measures for the protection of turtles and other marine species, but as yet there are no overarching regulations specifically for sea turtles. Other marine legislation in the offshore fishery for Cook Islands waters, that do contain provisions relating to sea turtles, is the 2012 Marine Resources (Large Pelagic Longline Fishery) Regulations. This is for the protection of non-target species in which licensed long line vessels must comply with national plans of action for sea turtle bycatch mitigation and the reduction of sea turtle mortality in fishing operations, as a condition of licensing.

However, near shore where other anthropogenic impacts are in play, particularly here on Rarotonga, there are considerably more stakeholders. Largely, in response to the increasing number of tour operators and the impacts of their combined and increasing numbers of clientele on habitat and sea turtles that inhabit the Ava’avaroa passage in Takitumu, the Ministry of Marine Resources are currently in the process of drafting regulations relating to sea turtles.

I understand the community consultations as it relates to the Ava’avaroa passage, have taken place but I would expect there will be further opportunity to comment throughout the promulgation process.

Just out of curiosity, from whom exactly were the individuals in your articles of 23^rd and 31^st October attempting to steal the turtles?.....”Shell-shocked: Environmentalists outraged by attempted turtle theft………A teenager and a woman were caught “stealing” a Pacific green sea turtle in the early hours of Tuesday…….This comes after an incident which took place last week where a teenager and a woman were caught attempting to steal a Pacific green sea turtle.”

To steal and theft under the Cook Islands Crimes Act, 1969 are crimes. Unless the turtle was in the possession of someone else in captivity, the shock value article headers would be a false accusation or just simply inappropriate. Or perhaps there is a little bit more to this story that might not fit the narrative and indignation?

Barbara Hanchard.