Ecobreves – GUATEMALA: Ban on Leatherback Turtle Sales

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GUATEMALA CITY, Oct 21 2006 (IPS) - From Oct. 15 to Apr. 15, 2007, a ban is in place on collecting and selling the eggs of the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), imposed by the Guatemalan government's National Council on Protected Areas (CONAP). Ten years ago there were about 50,000 females of this species of sea turtle, but “now there are only a few hundred, and it's estimated that of every thousand turtles hatched only one reaches adulthood,” CONAP spokeswoman Evelyn Picón explained to Tierramérica.

The ban on collecting eggs is in force on Guatemala's Pacific coast, while the prohibition on sales covers the whole country. Violation of the bans will be punished with five to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 2,700 dollars.

The only exception is collection of eggs intended for species conservation, by the appropriate authorities.