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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | February 2007 
Twenty Turtles Found Dead, Beaten on Mexican Pacific Beach
 German Press Agency
| | Mexico's tuna fleet is required to abide by a series of dispositions for the protection of dolphins, whales and sea turtles when these accidentally get stuck in the nets. |
Twenty sea turtles were found dead on a beach in south-western Mexico and an investigation is ongoing to determine whether tuna ships were responsible for their fate, the authorities said Friday.
Mexico's Federal Environmental Protection Authority (Profepa), said the turtles - which showed signs of having been beaten - were found on Escobilla beach, in the state of Oaxaca, where the nesting season has just started.
Mexico's tuna fleet is required to abide by a series of dispositions for the protection of dolphins, whales and sea turtles when these accidentally get stuck in the nets.
Ships with a capacity to drag over 353 metric tonnes have to have someone on board to check the nets for turtles before pulling them in.
Profepa strengthened its inspection sea tours to protect olive ridley turtles, an endangered species whose eggs are sought out by furtive hunters for later sale.
According to environmental protection authorities, 3,000 turtles arrived in one single day to nest in Escobilla.
In 2006, over 53 million turtles hatched through their eggshells on beaches in the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Michoacan - almost 17 million more than the previous year - amid a strict watch against egg traffickers. |
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