DISCUSSION PAPER: Illegal trade in marine turtles and their products from the Coral Triangle region
Posted on December, 21 2016
Marine turtles in the Coral Triangle are under threat from poaching and illegal trade of whole turtles and their products including turtle eggs.
Despite international protection, many populations are being driven to critically low levels by unsustainable capture and use, and demand for illegal trade. These activities are driven by market demand within and external to the Coral Triangle and are exacerbated by irregular (non-standard) laws between countries and within countries. Where laws do exist often there is a lack of enforcement and limited communications between government enforcement agencies. Aside from local consumption and commercial sale of meat, eggs and tortoiseshell products, the demand and illegal trade of marine turtle shell (and other derivative parts) is being driven by market destinations including Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam and Korea.
This discussion paper provides recommendations to address this issue on national and regional levels.
Selling turtle eggs. Samarind, East Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia.
© © Edward Parker / WWF
Selling turtle eggs. Samarind, East Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia.
© © Edward Parker / WWF