By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas National Trust has joined the chorus of conservationists expressing disappointment over the “lenient” sentencing of three people charged in connection with the possession and killing of an endangered loggerhead turtle.
The non-governmental organisation said the situation “missed an opportunity” to send a clear message that the actions constituted a serious offence.
“Many citizens felt that the conditional discharge of 500 hours of community service was too lenient,” the BNT said in a statement issued yesterday.
“Fisheries regulations allow for a much stronger penalty to have been issued.
“Offenders could have received a fine of $3,000, one year imprisonment or both. Perhaps, at the very least, the perpetrators of this egregious act should have been made to spend the time, in service to the environment.”
Three people were given a conditional discharge on Monday for violating the Fisheries Act, and ordered to perform 500 hours of community service and attend a voluntary intervention programme.
The BNT condemned the loggerhead turtle’s killing and stated while the organisation respects the court’s discretion, it was “disappointed with the decision”.
“Despite public outcry,” the BNT release read, “it is evident that we still need to do more education on the importance of sea turtles.”
It continued: “All around the world, humans have driven sea turtle populations to the brink of extinction.
“Unintended catch, or ‘bycatch’ of sea turtles in commercial fisheries, poaching of sea turtles and their eggs, coastal development, trade of sea turtles and their parts and poor enforcement of conservation laws all have contributed to the worldwide decline of their populations.
“The recent public outrage by citizens shows the importance of an informed citizenry in the enforcement of our fisheries regulations.
“The BNT encourages members of the public to learn the fisheries regulations, and to continue reporting offences to the Department of Marine Resources.”
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